HYDERABAD: Like the calm before a storm, campaigning for Telangana Assembly polls will end at 5 pm today. Top national leaders from both Congress and BJP made several visits to Telangana, highlighting the fact that it’s no more a one-sided contest but a tight battle that is likely to ensue. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the list of leaders who visited the State is endless.
Now that the show is over, all political functionaries and party workers who were brought in to campaign are supposed to leave, by Wednesday. Election officials will ensure that no political functionary, who does not belong to the constituency, remains in the area. This includes Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and MLCs.
All hotels, guest houses, kalyana mandapams, community halls and residential schools will be checked to ensure that no such politically connected person stays back in any constituency. Instructions have been issued to all the DEOs/ROs and Police authorities to maintain strict vigil to ensure voters are not bribed and cash, gifts or liquor is not supplied. In addition, 279 companies of Central Forces have been deployed.
Hustings to end at 4 pm at some places, 5 pm at others
Hyderabad: Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar has said that all poll campaigning and public meetings will have to stop 48 hours before the time election ends. That means, campaigning will have to stop at 4 pm on December 5 at the following places: Sirpur, Chennur(SC), Bellampally (SC) Mancherial, Asifabad(ST), Manthani, Bhupalapalle, Mulugu (ST), Pinapaka (ST), Yellandu (ST), Kothagudem, Aswaraopeta(ST), Bhadrachalam(ST). In the remaining constituencies, campaigning will have to stop by 5 pm on December 5.