Haryana Legislative Assembly Elections: Campaign Ban and Polling Guidelines Announced

Election campaigning for the 15th Haryana Legislative Assembly Elections-2024 ends at 6 PM on October 3. Voting is slated for October 5. The Election Commission has mandated strict guidelines, including a 48-hour silence period, restrictions on public meetings, and media content regulations.

The Election Commission has declared that campaigning for the 15th Haryana Legislative Assembly Elections-2024 will conclude at 6 PM on October 3. No political party or candidate will be allowed to hold public meetings or rallies beyond this time.

Only the candidate's election agent can remain in the constituency, while other party workers, leaders, and campaigners must leave if they are not voters of the constituency. Polling for all 90 Assembly constituencies in Haryana will take place on October 5, from 7 AM to 6 PM.

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal stated that under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, all campaigning must cease 48 hours before the polls close. No public meetings or media broadcasts featuring election material are allowed during this period. The use of loudspeakers and entertainment for electoral purposes is also banned.

Moreover, campaigning within a 200-meter radius of polling booths is strictly prohibited. Violating Section 126 (1) could result in up to two years of imprisonment and fines. Political figures provided with security must leave the constituency post-campaigning.

Under Section 126 (1)(b), displaying election content on television or similar devices during the 48-hour 'silent period' before voting ends is prohibited. Print media ads are allowed if pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee. Exit polls and result dissemination are banned from the start of voting until 30 minutes after polls close. Violators may face up to two years of imprisonment and fines.

(With inputs from agencies.)