Campaigning for the by-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies in Tamil Nadu will end on Sunday (Oct. 4). Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik has ordered that outsiders must leave the constituencies after 6 p.m.
In a statement issued on Saturday, she said: Voting for the by-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram single-member constituencies will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 6) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Therefore, from 6 p.m. on Sunday until the end of polling, the following rules will be in force under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
No one should organize, conduct, or participate in any public meeting or procession related to the election. No election matter should be displayed to the public through media such as film, television, FM radio, WhatsApp, Facebook, X, or similar platforms. This includes all forms of electronic communication, including text messages and the internet.
No election campaigning should be carried out among the public by conducting or arranging a music concert, theater performance, or any form of entertainment or amusement program in a way that attracts any person from the public.
If these rules are violated in any way, under Section 126(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a punishment of imprisonment for 2 years or a fine, or both, will be imposed.
All political party officials, party workers, and persons who are not voters of that constituency and who have been brought in from outside the constituency must leave the constituency after 6 p.m. on Sunday. It will be checked whether any outsiders are staying in marriage halls, community halls, lodges, or guest houses.
The vehicle permits granted to candidates, including star campaigners, will become ineffective from 6 p.m. on Sunday. For each candidate in the election, the returning officer will permit only one vehicle for the candidate’s personal use on polling day, one vehicle for use by the election agent for the constituency, and one vehicle for use by the election agent or his staff.
No candidate should be allowed to use vehicles to bring voters to polling stations or take them away from polling stations. He stated that this is an irregular act punishable under Section 133 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
