EC Tells Leaders To Keep Off Warangal From 19th

The Election Commission today asked all the political leaders, including Union and State ministers, former ministers and legislators, to leave the Warangal parliamentary constituency before 5 pm on November 19 to pave the way for an incident-free by-election on November 21.

Addressing the media at his Secretariat chambers, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal urged all the political leaders to avoid camping and canvassing in the segment.

Bhanwar Lal also appealed to the State government to refrain from making announcements of new schemes and projects during the enforcemnt of the model code of conduct till November 24, when counting would take place and results would be announced.

He also asked the electronic media to stop airing election-related ads or sending SMSes. The Commission would take penal action against all those who violated the code, he said.

He added that liquor sale in the constituency from 5 pm on November 19 till 5 pm on the polling day (November 21) would attract serious action. Illegal activities like distribution of money, liquor and gifts to lure the voters would also be dealt with seriously, and those who wished to report such activities could call the toll-free number 1800 4252 2747 or send a message to 8790499899.

On the nine complaints received from the TRS, the TDP, the BJP and the Congress, the Commission would take necessary action after scrutiny, he said.

The Commission had sought a clarification from Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on the Chief Minister announcing Christmas as a State festival, allotment of fine rice to hostels and extending the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme for the backward classes during the run-up to the by-election, he added.

He said that 1,778 polling stations had been set up, and voters could use EPICs as well as 10 other types of identity cards to exercise their franchise in the election.

All arrangements had been made for live web-casting in 626 polling stations, and web-casting locally in 300 stations, Lal said.

Twenty Central paramilitary forces will be deployed at the various segments, and every polling station will get an armed guard for security.

Arrangements have also been made to enable the physically disabled persons to cast their votes. They may cast their votes with the help of the nearest polling station, he said.