CHENNAI: With just 48 hours left for the bypoll in Tiruchy West Assembly constituency, the Election Commission on Monday tightened the screws by issuing fresh instructions to ensure a free and fair voting on October 13. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar asked all political functionaries and party workers, who are not voters in the constituency, to leave by 5 pm, on October 11, once the campaign ends. Besides, to ensure that outsiders are not staying in the constituency, all marriage halls, community halls, lodges and guest houses should be checked to find out whether outsiders have been accommodated.Praveen Kumar ordered that check posts has to be set up on the borders to track vehicular movement from outside the constituency. The vehicle permit given to candidates would cease to be valid after 5 pm on October 11.On the date of poll, each candidate is entitled to get a separate permit for one vehicle for his use, second vehicle for the use of election agent and another for party workers. Only these three vehicles with valid permits would be allowed on poll day for political purposes. But there is no ban on people using private vehicles for personal purposes.No candidate will be allowed to hire, procure or use vehicles to transport voters, which is a corrupt practice punishable under Section 133 of the Representation of the People Act. Food items should not be served at the temporary campaign offices.Persons manning polling booths must be voters of the same polling booth area and must possess photo identity card for verification. Persons with criminal antecedents should not be allowed to man political party booths on poll day, the Chief Electoral Officer said.
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