The Election Commission of India has issued detailed guidelines of ‘Do's and Don'ts’ for candidates and political parties for the Haryana Assembly elections. These guidelines are required to be followed till the completion of the election process.
Giving information in this regard, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said all parties and contesting candidates should have access to public places like grounds and helipads fairly. During elections, criticism of other political parties and candidates should be limited only to their policies, programmes, past records and actions.
Local police officials should be informed and necessary permission for the time and place of the proposed meeting should be taken in a timely manner. Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said if any restrictive or prohibitory orders are in force at the place of the proposed meeting, then those orders should be respected. Similarly, permission should be obtained for the use of loudspeakers or any other such facility for the proposed meetings and police assistance should be obtained in dealing with persons who create disturbance or disorder in the meetings.
He said the time, place and route of starting and ending any procession should be finalized in advance and prior permission should be obtained from the police officials. It must be kept in mind that the route of the procession should not obstruct the traffic.
’Cooperate with all election officials to ensure peaceful voting’
The Chief Electoral Officer said to ensure peaceful and orderly voting, all election officials should be cooperated by the political parties and the candidates contesting the elections. Also, all political workers engaged in the election will have to show badges or identity cards.
The informal identity slip issued to voters should be on plain (white) paper, on which there should be no name and symbol of the party or name of the candidate. Apart from this, the ban on movement of vehicles during the campaign period and on the day of polling should be strictly followed.
Any complaint or problem regarding the conduct of election should be brought to the notice of the Election Commission Observer, Returning Officer, Zonal/Sector Magistrate, Chief Electoral Officer or Election Commission of India.
The CEO said the orders or guidelines of the Election Commission or Returning Officer or District Election Officer should be strictly followed in all matters related to various aspects of the election. After the end of the election campaign period, if any person is not a voter or a contesting candidate or election agent of a candidate, then that person has to leave the concerned constituency.
No appeal can be made on the basis of caste or communal sentiments of voters
Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said no official work should be combined with election campaign or election activities and no inducement of any kind, financial or otherwise, should be given to the voters. No appeal should be made on the basis of caste or communal sentiments of voters.
Apart from this, no such activity should be done which can increase the existing differences or create mutual animosity or tension between different castes, communities, religious and linguistic groups.
Avoid cash transactions
The CEO said to maintain the sanctity and transparency of elections, political parties are advised to avoid cash transactions and instruct their candidates, agents, workers and officials not to carry large amounts of cash with them during elections. Apart from this, public meetings or processions organized by other political parties or candidates should not be obstructed.
Posters put up by other political parties and candidates should not be removed or defaced. The Chief Electoral Officer said loudspeakers should not be used on vehicles between 10 pm and 6 am.
Candidates to submit details of election expenditure within a month after results: Chief Electoral Officer
Those who do not give details of expenditure within stipulated period may be disqualified from contesting elections in future: Sh. Pankaj Agarwal
Candidates contesting the Assembly elections in Haryana will have to submit the details of their election expenditure to the office of the District Election Officer within one month after the election results are declared. According to the Election Commission of India, candidates who do not give the details of election expenditure within the stipulated time period may be disqualified from contesting elections in future.
Giving information, Chief Electoral Officer Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said this time, the maximum limit of expenditure per candidate for the Assembly elections is Rs 40 lakh. He said as per the rules, the calculation of election expenditure starts as soon as the candidate fills the nomination form.
For this, the candidate has to keep a separate diary of his daily election expenditure and also has to open a separate bank account. The calculation of expenditure continues till the completion of the election process. During this period, no candidate can spend more than the prescribed limit.
He said as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, election expenditure of more than Rs 10,000 by the candidate or political parties will be made by cheque or draft or RTGS/NEFT or any other electronic mode from the bank account of the candidate opened for the purpose of election in all situations.
He said as soon as the results of the Assembly elections are declared, it is mandatory for the candidates to give details of their election expenses within one month from that date.