Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD/EP)

Udupi, Apr 22: As Lok Sabha elections will be held for the Udupi – Chikkamagaluru constituency on April 26, the deputy commissioner has asked political leaders other than local voters, party workers, star campaigners and organisers of rallies to leave the constituency at 6 pm on April 24.

Presiding over a meeting of election preparedness and the regulations to be followed by political parties and party candidates at her office auditorium on Monday, April 22, Deouty Commissioner Dr Vidya Kumari said, “There will be no permission to hold public campaigns 48 hours prior to holding of elections on April 26 as the elections need to be just and peaceful.”

She said, "Loudspeakers shall not be used. Door-to-door campaigning is permitted. If advertisements in the print media or other media are to be published 48 hours prior to holding elections, the candidates concerned and the political parties need to obtain a no objection letter from the committee concerned. No election surveys or opinion or exit poll results can be published,” she said.

“A candidate can use only up to three vehicles within the final 48 hours. A candidate can have another election agent. The vehicle assigned to the candidate shall not be used by others. More than five people cannot travel in assigned vehicles. Section 144 under CRPC section banning gathering of more than five people will be in force during the duration,” the deputy commissioner said.

“Mobile phones should not be used within a radius of 100 meters from the polling booths. Political parties should not pitch open tents within a radius of 200 meters. Permission from the local authority will be necessary to open such of them outside within a radius of 200 meters. The tents can have a roof or tarpoline that can cover a maximum of two people. Two chairs and a table can be kept,” Dr Vidya Kumari said.

“A polling booth can have one polling agent and two relief agents appointed. They should sit only on the places allotted to them. The secrecy of polling should be maintained as mentioned under Election Representative Section 128,” she said

Sale and supply of liquor is prohibited from 5 pm on April 24 till the midnight of the polling day of April 26, she said.

District spokesperson Manjunath B, tahsildar Gururaj, candidates, various political party leaders and others were present.