LS poll campaign to end at 6 pm, today

LS poll campaign to end at 6 pm, today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 15, 2014: An acrimonious campaign by the political parties for April 17 Lok Sabha election will come to an end on Tuesday at 6 pm,  48 hours before the closure of polling.

Addressing a press meet here on Monday, Additional DC Sadashiva Prabhu said that political leaders including star campaigners from outside the constituency should leave the constituency.

Meanwhile, the authorities have issued second notice to National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Director Swapan Bhattacharya in connection with the campaign by BJP leader Ananth Kumar.

The reply from the NITK Registrar for the first notice was not satisfactory and did not speak on BJP leaders interacting with the students, when the BJP in its reply had informed the Election Commission that an interaction was held in the campus. 

“The second show cause notice said as the answers were not satisfactory why the district administration should not recommend to the Election Commission to initiate action against you.”

The flying squad has registered FIR against Ananth Kumar, Rajani Dugganna, Nalin Kumar Kateel and Yogish Bhat for violating model code of conduct by holding campaign inside an educational institution, at Surathkal police station.

Public holiday

The district administration has received two complaints on refusing to declare holiday on April 17. The ADC said that the government has declared a public holiday on April 17 when the state goes for Lok Sabha polls.  The holiday has been declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act according to notification issued by the State Government.

The DC has issued a circular to all government undertaking organisations, government and private educational institutions, labour organisations, malls, shops, hotels and business establishments to allow its employees to exercise their franchise. “If any one is not given permission to exercise franchise, then it would amount to violation of the rules,” he said.

The Additional DC clarified that if the owners of private vehicles give the list of drivers who will be deployed for election duty in advance, then the district administration can make all arrangement to issue election duty certificate, to allow them to exercise their franchise in any one of the polling booth in the district.

The Election Commission of India has directed the Karnataka’s coastal districts to ensure sea surveillance in preparation of the Lok Sabha election. The DC has discussed direction in a meeting with officials of Customs, Coastal Security Police, Coast Guard personnel, NMPT officials and the police on Monday evening.

A total of 137 complaints on violation of model code of conduct has been received by the authorities so far.