As the countdown for the election begins, the Election Commission and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike have banned political parties from holding public meetings and sale of liquor.

 “Political parties and their candidates have to end their campaigns by 6 pm (Thursday) and cannot hold public meetings to seek votes,” District Election Officer and BBMP Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao told a press conference on Thursday.

Candidates, however, can hold door-to-door campaigns in their constituencies. “We’ll keep a close watch on all party candidates,” Rao added. Under 144 CrPC restrictions, not more than five people belonging to a political party are allowed to move around the city as a group.

Dry days

A ban on liquor has also been imposed within the city limits from 5 pm Thursday (May 10) to midnight on May 13 (Sunday) and again from 6 am to 12 am on May 15 (Tuesday).

A notification issued to this effect referred to the prohibition as “dry days.”

Rao also said the polling day of May 12 has been declared a holiday under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881.

“NO canvassing will be allowed within a 100-metre radius of the polling centres, and cell phones are banned except for the polling officers,” Rao said, speaking about the restrictions in place on the polling day.

EC gag order

The EC has placed a gag on media houses on advertisements by candidates or any participants in the poll process soliciting votes. The panel has also restricted media houses from publishing opinion polls or analysis concerning the elections.

Meanwhile, officers have seized about Rs 6.84 crore cash and Rs 5.29 crore worth of liquor within the city limits. In total, Rs 31.55 crore has been seized including the goods and other materials distributed to voters by various party leaders.