Campaigning ends, silent period begins in Kangpokpi
Source: Chronicle News Service /DIO
Kangpokpi, February 26 2022:
As the state gears up for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, campaigning for the first phase ended and silent period began from 4 pm on Saturday in Kangpokpi district.
With the inception of silent period, only two days are left for the 1,00,351 (49,631 male and 50,720 female) voters of the district to decide the political fate of 17 candidates contesting in the three assembly constituencies.
The silent period is a ban on political campaigning prior to voting, to give voters a peaceful time to consider and make a final decision on their vote.
The period starts from 48 hours prior to close of the poll.
The presence of political functionaries from outside the constituency will be restricted and.
election matters shall not be telecast/broadcast in radio, TV or similar apparatus, while pre-certification by state/district Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) is mandatory for publication of political advertisement in newspaper during the silent period.
Public meeting, procession among others will also be prohibited.
On the polling day, candidates will not be allowed to canvass within 100 metres of polling station and also not enter polling booth with security.
No one will be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling booth except for the Presiding Officer and Polling Offtcer-I .
As per Section-126 of the Representation of People Act 1951, holding public meeting is prohibited during period of 48-hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll.
No person shall propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area.
Further, any person who cpntravenes the above provisions shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Meanwhile, dispersal of Polling Parties, Micro Observers (MO) and Sector Officers (SO) in respect of the three assembly constituencies of the district will begin on Sunday.
The Dispersal cum Reception Centre (DCRC) for the ACs will be held at Kangpokpi DC Office.
Voter Assistance Booth will be set up in all polling stations.
Provisions for pick up/drop facilities for persons with disability (PwD) and aged voters are made available with provision of wheelchair facility.
Dedicated five vehicles for each constituency are deployed in Kangpokpi district for PwD and aged voters.
Eighty-plus and PwD voters, who have not yet applied for postal ballot, will be considered as normal voters.
To ensure safe voting, all polling stations will be sanitised one day before polls.
Earmarking of circles, token system will be in place to avoid crowding in polling stations and adequate sanitiser, mask, glove, face shield, PPE kit among others will be provided to polling parties.
Live Webcasting will be done in 73 polling stations - 12 in Saikul (ST), 27 in Kangpokpi and 34 in Saitu (ST) Assembly Constituencies and videography will be done in 93 polling stations of the district.
Speaking to DIPR officials of Kangpokpi District, General observer Probhudutta David Pradhan appealed to the public for a free and fair election in the district.
Wishing good luck to the entire election team, he appealed the public to extend cooperation to the polling team.
He also urged everyone to cooperate with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and police personnel deployed for the smooth conduct of the election and opined that the polling will be conducted smoothly.
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