Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Shrikant Walgad, on Tuesday said the Election Department had completed all arrangements for the conduct of peaceful and fair elections.
He said no person would convene, hold or attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with the elections during the 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll.
Display of any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus, has also been prohibited. No person would propagate any election matter to the public by holding or arranging the holding of any musical or theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting members of the public.
Walgad said that any person who contravenes these provisions would be punishable with imprisonment for term which may be extended to two years or with fine, or with both. The polling parties would reach concerned polling stations with all related material by Wednesday evening.
Polling agents of different political parties would be allowed to enter the polling stations with authority letters by 6 am on April 10. Mock poll would be conducted at 6 am. The polling would be held between 7 am and 6 pm. At 6 pm, the electoral officer would give slips to the voters standing in the queue who would then be allowed to cast their votes. Walgad said that EVMs to be utilised in the election procedure had been properly checked by the engineers and these would be given to the polling parties in their presence.
After polling, EVMs would be sealed in the presence of the agents and carried to the strong rooms of counting centres of the concerned areas in the presence of the security forces. In order to ensure peaceful conduct of elections and maintenance of law and order, about 44,000 police personnel and home guards and 60 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed.