<p>The Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura on Thursday issued notices to the state units of the BJP and Congress and also BJP national general secretary Dilip Saikia for seeking votes on Twitter when polling was underway on Thursday.</p>.<p>The EC said the tweets violated section 126 (l)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits any display to the public of any election matter utilizing cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus in polling areas during 48 hours before the end of polling. It said the tweets were made in the 48-hour "silence period" which began on Tuesday evening. They have been given an opportunity "to take corrective action at the earliest".</p>.<p>They have also been asked to explain their stands for the violation by 5 pm on Friday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/tripura-registers-3212-voter-turnout-till-11-am-1191741.html" target="_blank">Tripura registers 32.12% voter turnout till 11 am</a></strong></p>.<p>In its notice to Saikia, the Tripura CEO said, " ... an appeal for vote in favour of BJP has been tweeted from your handle at 0950 hours on 16.02.2023. The tweet is in the form of a photo containing the following message: "Unnato Tripura Sreshtho Tripura Vote for BJP." An identical notice to the Tripura BJP said an appeal for vote in favour of BJP was tweeted from BJP handle at 8 am on Thursday. "The tweet followed by a video clip is as under: For a safe and brighter future, vote for BJP", it said.</p>.<p>The notice to the Tripura Congress noted that an appeal for votes in favour of INC (Indian National Congress) was tweeted from Tripura Congress' handle at 11.42 am on Thursday. "The tweet is as under: People of Tripura spontaneously casting votes for Congress. This time Congress will come," the notice said.</p>
<p>The Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura on Thursday issued notices to the state units of the BJP and Congress and also BJP national general secretary Dilip Saikia for seeking votes on Twitter when polling was underway on Thursday.</p>.<p>The EC said the tweets violated section 126 (l)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits any display to the public of any election matter utilizing cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus in polling areas during 48 hours before the end of polling. It said the tweets were made in the 48-hour "silence period" which began on Tuesday evening. They have been given an opportunity "to take corrective action at the earliest".</p>.<p>They have also been asked to explain their stands for the violation by 5 pm on Friday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/tripura-registers-3212-voter-turnout-till-11-am-1191741.html" target="_blank">Tripura registers 32.12% voter turnout till 11 am</a></strong></p>.<p>In its notice to Saikia, the Tripura CEO said, " ... an appeal for vote in favour of BJP has been tweeted from your handle at 0950 hours on 16.02.2023. The tweet is in the form of a photo containing the following message: "Unnato Tripura Sreshtho Tripura Vote for BJP." An identical notice to the Tripura BJP said an appeal for vote in favour of BJP was tweeted from BJP handle at 8 am on Thursday. "The tweet followed by a video clip is as under: For a safe and brighter future, vote for BJP", it said.</p>.<p>The notice to the Tripura Congress noted that an appeal for votes in favour of INC (Indian National Congress) was tweeted from Tripura Congress' handle at 11.42 am on Thursday. "The tweet is as under: People of Tripura spontaneously casting votes for Congress. This time Congress will come," the notice said.</p>
