District Election Officer-Cum-Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal today asked the representatives of all political parties to follow the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit in the wake of Lok Sabha elections and extend their full cooperation for successful conduct of the entire election process.
DC said that the Election Commission of India has announced the Lok Sabha elections and the Model Code of Conduct has come into force from March 16 after the announcement of the elections, which will remain in force till the completion of the election process.
District Election Officer Mr. Vishesh Sarangal and Senior Superintendent of Police Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar told the representatives of political parties that the notification for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha elections would be issued on May 7, after which the last date for filing of nominations would be May 14 and scrutiny of nominations would be done on May 15 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature would be May 17, he said. Polling will be held on June 1, and counting of votes will take place on June 4. He said the election process would be completed by June 6, 2024.
He informed that 1951 polling stations have been set up for conducting elections and 16.42 lakh voters will exercise their franchise.
He also said that the election expenditure incurred by each candidate from the day of filing of nomination papers to the day of declaration of results would be maintained on a daily basis.
Apart from this, the expenditure of more than Rs 10,000 by each candidate will be incurred through cheque, demand draft and NEFT from the bank account opened by the candidate for election expenditure, he added.
Mr. Sarangal further said that it is mandatory for political parties and candidates to get pre-certification of the content of advertising done through print, electronic and social media for their election campaign from the District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee established at Room No. 14-A, the District Administrative Complex.
He also said that before using the vehicles used for campaigning and loudspeakers etc. on them, it is mandatory to obtain permission for the vehicle and loudspeaker by submitting their written information to the concerned Assistant Returning Officer.
He also informed that the loudspeakers can only be used from 6 am to 10 pm.
The District Election Officer said that various types of permissions are to be given to the political parties / candidates for campaigning during the elections.
A single window system has been set up at the district level to facilitate the process of obtaining approvals. He further mentioned that the Election Commission has increased the expenditure limit for candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh.
He said that no political party or candidate or its workers would be allowed to paste flags, banners, stick notices, write slogans etc. on the land, building or wall of any person without his permission.
Representatives of the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Communist Party of India, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) were present in the meeting.