The Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, IAS has notified for general information of all concerned that as per Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the campaigning period for Bye-election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 14-Southern Angami-I (ST) Assembly Constituency and 60-Pungro-Kiphire (ST) Assembly Constituency shall come to an end vv.e.f. 4:00 PM - 01/11/2020 and that there is prohibition of public meeting during the period of forty-eight hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll. Accordingly, no person shail: -

1. Convene, hold or attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or
2. Display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus; or
3. Propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public.

Any person who contravenes this provision shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Further, as per the directives of the Election Commission, the District Election Administration / Police Administration shall ensure that ail political functionaries who are not voters of the constituency going for bye-elections shall leave the constituency immediately after the campaign period is over. 

In another notification the Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, IAS has informed that the Election Commission of India vide its Notification No. 576/EXIT/2020/SDR/Vol.II/116 dated: 14th October, 2020 has notified that the period between 6.00 A.M. on 3rd November, 2020 (Tuesday) and 6:30 P.M on 7th November, 2020 (Saturday), as the period during which conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicizing by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever, the result of any Exit Poll in connection with the Bye-elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 14-Southern Angami –I(ST) & 60-Pungro-Kiphire(ST) Assembly Constituencies shall be prohibited.

The CEO further clarified that under Section 126(1)(b) of the R.P. Act, 1951, displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll for the aforesaid bye-elections.

(DIPR)