New Delhi: In a bid to curb the makes an attempt of “anti-social elements” making an attempt to intimidate voters, the Election Commission on Monday (March 22) positioned a ban on bike rallies forward of voting days.
The ban on bike rallies will come into impact 72 hours before the voting begins in the respective constituencies.
“It has been brought to the notice of the Commission that in some places bikes are used by some antisocial elements to intimidate the voters before the poll day and on poll day,” the EC stated in a press release.
“The Commission has considered the above issue and has decided that Bike Rallies shall not be allowed at any place 72 hours before date of poll and on the Poll day in all poll going constituencies,” it added.
The Commission issued a directive to the chief electoral officers of poll-bound West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry in this regard.
The EC additionally requested the CEOs to tell all stakeholders involved, together with candidates, political events and the Commission’s observers, to make sure strict compliance of the instructions.
Elections to the 5 assemblies will start on March 27 and the counting of votes will happen on May 2.
