ECI restricts political functionaries in constituency after campaign period is over

Chandigarh, August 16, 2014: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued detailed set of instructions putting restrictions on the presence of political functionaries in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo assembly constituencies after the campaign period is over.
Disclosing this here today, V.K. Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab today said that civil and police administrations of both Patiala and Bathinda districts have been directed to ensure that all functionaries leave their constituency immediately after the campaign period is over. However, the elected MP of poll going assembly constituency should not be asked to leave their constituency during the election to legislative assembly, even if he/she is not an elector of the poll going constituency. However, such MP would not be allowed to carry out any campaign in the constituency after the campaign period is over, i.e. 48 hours before the time of close of poll.
CEO further said that under section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, after the closure of campaign period, no campaign can take place within the constituency, presence of political functionaries/party workers/procession functionaries/campaign functionaries etc., who have been brought from outside the constituency and who are not voters of the constituency, should not continue to remain present in the constituency as their continued presence after campaign ends may undermine the atmosphere for the free and fair poll.
He said that the election and police administrations have also been directed to check community halls etc., where such people are kept housed and find out whether the outsiders have been accommodated in these premises, to verify lodges and guesthouses to keep a track of the list of occupants, to set up check-posts in the constituencies’ borders and track the vehicular movement from outside the constituency and to verify the identity of the people/group of people in order to find out whether they are voters or not and establish their identity.