48-hour silence period for Assam elections from April 7: Election Commission
The silence period will start from 5:00 pm and it will continue till 5:00 pm on April 9.
A file image of people lined up to cast their votes outside a polling booth. (Photo: X)
New Delhi, April 3: The Election Commission on Thursday said that the silence period for the Assam election will start from 5:00 pm on April 7 and it will continue till 5:00 pm on April 9.
“Section 126 (1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits displaying any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, in any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours (silence period) ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in that polling area,” the EC said.
Accordingly, the Commission reiterates that the TV/Radio channels and cable networks should ensure that the contents of the programme telecast/broadcast/displayed by them during the period mentioned above do not contain any material. This also includes the display of any opinion poll.
The Commission under Section 126A of the R.P. Act 1951, has notified that the conduct of exit poll and dissemination of their results by means of print or electronic media is prohibited between 7:00 am on April 9, and 6.30 pm on April 29.
“Violation of Section 126A of the R.P. Act, 1951 is punishable with imprisonment up to a period of two years, or with fine or both,” the Commission said.
The Commission also advises all media houses to follow instructions in this regard in keeping with its spirit.
On Wednesday, the Commission held a meeting of 282 Central Observers along with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry through video conferencing.
As many as 136 Central Observers have been deputed for Assam, including 51 general observers, 35 police observers and 50 expenditure observers.
By
A Correspondent