TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In the wake of extreme hot weather conditions in April-May, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has fixed voting timings for the Lok Sabha elections from 7 am to 6 pm in all parliamentary constituencies excluding north-eastern states where the voting time will end at 5pm. The timings, EC expects, will help voters to turnout in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
In another notification, the Commission has directed complete ban on the use of official vehicles for campaigning or election-related travel.
“There shall be a total prohibition on the use of any vehicles such as cars, jeeps, boats, hovercraft etc. belonging to i) Central Government ii) State Government iii) Public undertakings of the Central and State Government iv) Joint sector undertaking central and State Government v) Local bodies vi) marketing boards vii) Co-operative societies viii) Autonomous District Councils or any other body in which public funds, however, portion of the total are invested for any purpose connected with the elections, on any other political party, candidate or any other person connected with election,” it says.
The Commission has also directed that vehicles under no circumstances be allowed to move in convoys of more than three vehicles and as such, all bigger convoys be broken up, even if it has presence of any minister.
