CAMPAIGNING IN STATE ENDS TODAY

: The campaigning for the 13 parliamentary constituencies in Punjab will end on Friday and all political leaders and workers, who are not registered voters, have been asked to vacate the constituency after 6pm until the conclusion of polling on May 19, said Punjab chief electoral officer S Karuna Raju.

“The directions would not be applicable to the contesting candidates or the state heads of the political parties but they are allowed to move only between their state party offices and their residences,” Raju said.

The EC also directed the election and police administration to keep a close check on the community centres, guest houses and lodges so that outsiders, if any, could be housed if need arises. Identity cards of those who stay in the constituency will be checked and the administration has been instructed that those provided security cover remain in their registered constituency till the poll day.

If a political leader does not leave constituency after campaign period ends citing medical reasons, he/she will have to undergo health check up through a medical board, Raju said.

The EC has also imposed prohibition on broadcasting or propagating election related material on TV, Radio, newspapers, digital platforms and social media.

As many as 59 notices have been issued for violation of noise pollution norms from May 9 till date (May 16) while a total of 101 notices had been issued since poll code came in to the force. Pathankot district was issued 10 notices while Gurdaspur (2), Kapurthala (4), Jalandhar (2), Ludhiana (12), Moga (14), Bathinda (12), Mansa (2) and Fazilka (1) were served notices.

CASH, LIQUOR, DRUGS WORTH ₹283 CR SEIZED

Enforcement teams in Punjab have seized cash, liquor and psychotropic substances valuing ₹283 crore since the poll code came into force, Raju said.

He said surveillance teams had seized liquor valued at ₹10 crore, 8,102 kg of psychotropic substances (₹218 crore) and valuable items worth ₹22.56 crore besides confiscating unaccounted ₹32.07 crore cash till Thursday.

A total of 3,743 people have been identified who can create disturbance on the polling day, he said.