Ludhiana, February 12
In accordance with the directions of Punjab Government, February 13, the day of polling for the Assembly elections, will be a public holiday for all government and semi-government departments, boards and corporations and educational institutions.
Mr S.K. Sandhu, District Elections Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, said in a press release here today that the government had further notified February 13 as a ‘close day’ for all factories and commercial establishments to enable the workers cast their votes. In lieu of the holiday on the day of polling, the factories and commercial establishments would be allowed to function on February 17.
Mr Sandhu further directed that as per the directions of Election Commission of India, no sitting legislator or member of Parliament could be appointed as a polling or election agent by any candidate. The use of mobile phone, except for authorised persons on election duty, within 100 metres of a polling station, has also been banned.
According to him, no propaganda material, including banners, poster and bills, would be put up within 200 metres of polling stations. Mr Sandhu asked all political parties and contestants, including Independents, to immediately remove all kind of propaganda material, if put up within the restricted limit of polling stations in the district.
Restrictions have also been imposed on plying of vehicles on the day of polling with a stipulation that except for those on election duty, there would be no vehicular movement within 200 metres of all polling stations in the district. The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that violation of these directions would attract penal action under the model code of conduct for elections.
