Keeping general elections 2014 in view, the Election Commission has issued a paid holiday for government and private firms, failing which stringent action will be initiated. Campaign for general elections in Telangana state came to a halt on Monday evening and 119 MLA and 17 MP segments will go for polls on April 30 till 6 pm, according to Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal.
The Election Commission has imposed a ban on publicity in any media, exit and opinion polls, bulk SMS by political parties, sale of liquor, publicity in electronic, print, social media, Radio and Cinema halls, he said adding that print media is allowed to carry poll publicity to some extent. Addressing a press conference at his chambers in Secretariat here, he said that paid holiday is given for government employees and private companies staff to enable them to exercise their franchise in a hassle free manner. Voter slips are not mandatory and the electors can cast their votes with any permitted ID cards and can find their polling booth by sending SMS to 195 number of call 9246280027,he said adding that about 85 per cent of voter slips were distributed so far.
Besides, sale of liquor is prohibited and gunmen of VIPs or politicians should not carry their weapons on the day of elections. To some extent print media is allowed publicity, while the Television channels should not give room to election campaign in 30, 518 polling stations in Telangana including 12,000 sensitive areas. While declaring a paid holiday for government offices and private firms business and shops, Bhanwar Lal said that criminal cases will be filed and one year jail will be awarded to those who failed to turn up and violate the norms.
The EC will monitor election code of conduct through live web casting of 16,512 polling stations and rest will be videography, static cameras and micro observers. Strict vigilance is kept on Telugu and Urdu channels to ensure free and fair poll of elections. He stated that the EC has imposed ban on any sort of campaign from April 28 i.e., Monday 6 pm to April 30 i.e., Wednesday 6 pm and serious action will be taken against violators. Special boxes are being arranged for postal ballots for employees participating in elections duty while 1.40 lakh police force is on duty for smooth conduct of elections.
All arrangements are made for the first phase of elections in Telangana wherein 2.86 crore voters including three NRIs will exercise their franchise. While elections in three problematic areas will be held from 7am to 4pm, in seven assembly segments it will be from 7am to 5pm and rest of 109 segments will be from 7am to 5pm. The EC has seized so far 126 crore illegal cash, 74 kg gold, 707 kg silver, 4.57 lakh liters of illegal liquor, 15,170 persons arrested and 8,457 belt shops closed.(NSS)