Politicians, EC race against time

With the deadline for last day of campaigning for four bypolls seats coming to an end on Friday, the Election Commission (EC) and the political parties in the state are racing against time to wrap up poll related activities.

By :  migrator
Update: 2019-05-16 22:53 GMT
DMK president MK Stalin campaigning among residents of Sulur on Thursday

Chennai

The four assembly seats - Aravakurichi, Sulur, Ottapidaram (SC) and Tiruparankundram are due for polling on Sunday, the EC on Thursday directed the outsiders to move out of the assembly constituencies by Friday.

“No one shall convene, hold or attend any public meeting or procession in connection with an election. No one shall display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus, like, FM Radios, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter,” the Election Commission said in a late evening statement. This includes all electronic form of communication, including SMS and internet. Any violation of this and above two provisions is punishable with imprisonment for 2 years or fine or both, with reference to Section 126 (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the EC said.

All political functionaries, party workers from outside the constituency and who are not voters of the constituency should leave the areas immediately after 6 pm on May 17, it said. Mandaps, community hall, lodges, guest houses would be checked to find out whether the outsiders have been accommodated in these premises and strong action would be taken in case of model code violation, the EC warned. EC also urged media houses not to telecast or publish any exit poll survey which has already been banned from April 11 to May 19 (6 pm).

Meanwhile, political leaders, including state ministers went the extra mile on Thursday seeking votes for their parties. DMK leader MK Stalin continued his tirade against the ruling AIADMK in Sulur Assembly constituency where former DMK minister Pongalur Palanisamy is contesting. Stalin charged the AIADMK and the BJP of being doing injustice to Tamil Nadu and urged for a regime change both in the state and in Centre.

The rebel AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran touring in Tiruparankundram blamed the AIADMK government as a group led by traitors. “Elections are the only solution for the political turmoil in Tamil Nadu. DMK is trying to capture power through back door entry. Both DMK and AIADMK should lose their deposits so that AMMK will favour for new general Assembly polls,” Dhinakaran campaigned among voters.

Founder of Samathuva Makkal Katchi and AIADMK sympathiser Sarath Kumar also intensified his campaign for the AIADMK candidates. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami led government is travelling on the lines of former CM Jayalalithaa and this good governance should continue, Sarath Kumar said.

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