Tura, Nov 12: The Returning Officer to Gambegre Legislative Assembly constituency issued an order under Section 163 of the BNSS prohibiting all the candidates and political parties from election campaigning exercises namely, public meetings, rallies and processions during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of poll during the electioneering exercises to Gambegre constituency.
Since the poll day is on November 13, all the public meetings and processions were closed at 4 pm of November 11, till the last hour of the poll.
Further, the order also directed political functionaries or party workers who have been brought from outside the constituency and who were not voters of the constituency to leave the constituency immediately after the campaign period was over.
Use of loudspeakers during the period of 48 hours ending with the poll closing time was also prohibited.
It was also mentioned that restrictions under 163 of the BNSS order do not permit more than 5 persons to assemble or move together in the area, however, the commission has clarified that this does not restrict house-to-house visits during 48 hours in connection with door-to-door campaigning.
Moreover, the order also prohibited Exit polls under law from the period from the start of the poll on the first poll day and 30 minutes after the end of poll on the last poll date.
It also prohibited that no result of any Opinion Poll conducted at any time, be published, publicized or disseminated, in any manner whatsoever, in or by any print or electronic media, 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll.
This order extended to the entire West Garo Hills District and will remain in force until completion of the poll process.