# India

Assam’s 1st phase poll campaign ends

The ECI also directed that no political party or candidate or any other organization or person shall publish any advertisement in the print media on poll day or one day prior to poll day in all the phases, unless the contents of political advertisements are pre-certified by the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC).

Statesman News Service | Guwahati | March 26, 2021 11:37 am

The campaigning for the first phase polling of Assam legislative assembly elections covering 47 constituencies came to end this evening. Under the ECI’s guidelines the campaigning ends 48 hours prior to the close of 27 March polling. “During this period, no person shall convene, hold or attend, join or address any public meetings, processions etc, and display of election matter by means of television and similar apparatus,” said a statement from the electoral authority.

It also prohibits propagation of any election matter to the public by holding any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public, in any polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll. The ECI also directed that no political party or candidate or any other organization or person shall publish any advertisement in the print media on poll day or one day prior to poll day in all the phases, unless the contents of political advertisements are pre-certified by the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC).

In the context of Assam, the restricted days of advertisement are 26 & 27 March for first phase, 31 March & 1 April for second phase and 5 & 6 April for the third (also last) phase, said an ECI statement adding that the direction is meant for all political parties, contesting candidates and newspapers for general information and strict compliance. In the first phase polling, 81,09,815 general electors (out of which 40,32,481 are females and 124 are transgenders) will decide the political fate of 269 candidates.

# India

Campaigning ends for first phase of civic polls in UP

The counting of votes will be taken up on May 13. A total of 4.32 crore voters will exercise their franchise at 43198 polling booths to elect members for 14,684 posts in this civic poll.

# Bengal

CM may urge ECI to withhold campaigning between 10-20 Oct

“There should be no disturbance during the Durga Puja days. Campaigning for bypolls can continue before and after the pujas. For instance, campaigning can be done from 21 to 27 October. I will appeal to the commission to consider this. After the bypoll, other elections will also be held,”

# World

Sarkozy convicted by French court in campaign financing case

During his hearing, Sarkozy told the court the extra money didn’t go into his campaign, but instead helped make other people richer. He denied any “fraudulent intent.”