Punjab poll 2022: Outsiders not allowed, flying squads to keep close watch

Mohali, February 17

With the campaigning for the Assembly elections ending 48 hours before the polling, there will be a complete ban on all kinds of electioneering from 6 pm tomorrow and violation would attract strict action.

Stating this here today, Mohali Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Isha Kalia said barring the residents of that particular Assembly constituency, there was a complete ban on the presence of outsider political functionaries after 6 pm tomorrow. She said all persons should go back to their respective Assembly constituencies. She said leaders of political parties should prepare their travel plans in such a manner that they leave other constituencies in time.

Prohibtion on sale, serving of liquor

• Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Isha Kalia said sale or serving of liquor would be prohibited in the district from 6 pm on February 18 to February 20 till conclusion of the polling. Similarly, March 10, the day of counting of votes, was declared a dry day.
• She said on these days, no hotel, restaurant, club, marriage palace and other establishments would be allowed to serve liquor on their premises. Storing of liquor was also prohibited on these days.
• Isha Kalia said these orders had been issued to maintain law and order in view of the polling and counting.

Isha Kalia said checking of all hotels, lodges, guest houses, marriage palaces, restaurants, etc, would be carried out jointly by police, returning officers and flying squads to ensure no outsiders were staying in the three constituencies of the district. She said the move was aimed at restricting the presence of political functionaries, party workers, procession and campaign functionaries, who have been brought from outside the Assembly constituency for campaigning. She said the district administration was duty-bound to ensure that all functionaries, who were not voters of the Assembly constituency, leave by 6 pm tomorrow.

The DC said sale or serving of liquor would be prohibited in the district from 6 pm on February 18 to February 20 till conclusion of the polling. Similarly, March 10, the day of counting of votes, was declared a dry day. She said on these days, no hotel, restaurant, club, marriage palace and other establishments would be allowed to serve liquor on their premises. Storing of liquor was also prohibited on these days.

Isha Kalia said these orders had been issued to maintain law and order in view of the polling and counting.

Reiterating the commitment of the district administration to ensure free, fair and transparent polls in Mohali district, the District Election Officer said people should come and vote independently without any fear. She warned that strict action would be taken against any candidate or political party trying to lure voters by distributing cash, liquor or any other thing in lieu of votes.