Campaign ends today at 4 pm, meetings banned

With polling taking place on December 7, TS Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar has issued a press note warning that public meetings will be prohibited for the 48-hour period from 4 pm on December 5 in Sirpur, Chennur (SC), Bellampally (SC) Manchiryal, Asifabad (ST), Manthani, Bhupalpally, Mulugu (ST), Pinapaka (ST), Yellandu (ST), Kothagudem, Aswaraopet (ST) and Bhadrachalam (ST). Meetings will be prohibited an hour later, from 5 pm on the same date, for all other constituencies.

The press note stated that no person shall convene, hold, attend, join, and address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election in the prohibited period. It also said that display of election matter conveyed to the public by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus is also prohibited. Similarly release of opinion polls and other poll-related programmes through electronic media will not be permitted during this period.

Moreover, propagation of any election matter to the public by holding or arranging any musical concert or any theatrical performance, or other form of entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting members of the public in any polling area is also prohibited. Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

The CEO issued instructions to District Election Officers to ensure that Section 126 of the Representation of People Act 1951 is implemented and no campaign shall take place within the constituency during the stipulated 48-hour period.