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19.10.2019
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CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued detailed guidelines to district election officers to ensure prohibition during 48 hours before the end of polling on October 21 evening.
The campaigning in all four assembly constituencies — Dakha, Jalalabad, Mukerian and Phagwara — would end on October 19 evening. Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju said guidelines have been issued in accordance with the provisions enacted in Section 126 of Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1951.
EC has imposed complete prohibition on broadcasting or propagating election related material on TV, radio and newspapers during 48 hours before the poll conclusion. However, any advertisement being published in the newspapers on October 20 and 21 requires prior permission or certification from EC, said Raju. He added that all advertisements for the prospect of candidates or political parties during the last 48 hours will be restricted.
According to guidelines, all electronic media advertisement, including the bulk SMS, IVRS and social media have been completely banned for broadcasting during the last 48 hours. He said all print media advertisements to be published during the last 48 hours have got to be certified by state level media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC), if it is general party propaganda for the entire state. He, however, said if this is for the prospect of a candidate, then the district level MCMC would certify.
All political leaders, functionaries or party workers who are not registered voters will have to vacate the constituency within this period. But the MLA of poll bound assembly constituency should not be asked to leave his or her constituency during election even if he or she is not an elector of the poll bound constituency. Police and civil administration of the concerned districts have been directed to ensure that outsiders not required in the area should leave immediately.
He further said that in case of a prominent political leader didn't leave the constituency after campaign period was over, citing some medical reasons. In this case the district electoral officer concerned, in consultation with CEO, would constitute a medical board for health check-up of the political functionary seeking exemption. The medical board shall, after medical examination of the patient and his/her medical history, will give report whether condition of the patient (political leader) is such that he can't move or be shifted under medical attendance out of the constituency in an ambulance or vehicle.
If any prominent political leader did not leave the constituency after campaign period was over, citing some medical reasons, his exemption would only be considered by the election commission after going through the report of medical board received through Punjab CEO.

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