Contenders in the upcoming parliamentary election have until 12:00am tomorrow to wrap up their campaigns as the curtain will fall on the last two weeks' hectic electioneering at midnight today.
None will be allowed to convene, hold or attend any public meeting, and no person will be allowed to organise or join any procession within the area of any constituency after midnight today.
The restrictions will continue till forty eight-hours have elapsed since the completion of vote casting, according to a news release of the Election Commission (EC).
According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), any violation of the restrictions is punishable by a minimum of two years of rigorous imprisonment which might be extended to seven years, and also by fines.
The EC news release yesterday urged all to abide by the instructions.
Although official poll campaigns end at midnight today, the candidates however are expected to carry on quieter public relations in their last ditch efforts to get the voters to vote for them in the December 29 poll.
According to the amended RPO, the original schedule for the end of campaigns had been 8:00am today, but the EC extended the time limit by 16 hours.
The EC yesterday in another circular directed the returning officers (ROs) and the chiefs of law enforcement agencies to allow supporters of candidates within a radius of 400 yards of the polling centres to provide voters with their voter numbers and serial numbers.
"Such activities will not be considered as violations of the electoral rules," the EC said in the circular.
BAN ON VEHICLES
Through the circular, the EC also imposed a ban on movement of some types of vehicles across the country, from midnight of December 28 till midnight of December 29.
The vehicles are baby taxis, auto rickshaws, taxi cabs, jeeps, pick up vans, cars, buses, trucks, human haulers locally known as 'tempos', launches, speedboats and all other types of motorised water vehicles.
The ban however will not be effective on the highways.
In the metropolitan areas, a ban on movement of motorbikes will be in effect from midnight today till midnight of December 31.
However, the ban will not be applicable to the movement of vehicles transporting election observers and journalists, both international and domestic who will have legal identity cards, to vehicles carrying law enforcers, to ambulances, and to vehicles used for providing utility services.
The ban can also be relaxed for vehicles used by election candidates and their election agents, albeit with permissions from returning officers.
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