Mangaluru: As the political parties in the entire state are busy campaigning for the upcoming elections on May 12 with various gimmicks, Deputy Commissioner (DC) for Dakshina Kannada Sasikanth Senthil has issued guidelines to be followed for the 48 hours leading up to the elections, starting from May 10, 6 pm.

At a press meet held at his office, DC Senthil said, “The public campaigning will come to an end 48 hours prior to the polling day. The star-campaigners, political party leaders who are non-registered voters of this district will have to vacate before 6 pm on May 10. In this regard, the election commission has already served notices to the hotels, lodges and guest houses in the city.”

“Electronic media should stop broadcasting advertisements, exit polls and pre-poll surveys. Any content aimed at influencing the voters will not be permissible during the 48 hours before the polls.”

“The print media can run the advertisements only after obtaining a pre-certification from the election commission (EC). But, the publications have to apply for this pre-certification before May 9,” he added.

The DC also informed that the EC has identified 517 critical polling stations in the district and to ensure that the election process remains free and fair, the EC has deployed Central Para Military Forces (CPMF), web-streaming personnel, videographers and micro observers.

DC Senthil also said that the EC has confiscated Rs. 15,89,500 undocumented cash, seized 31763.605 liters of liquor and 9 vehicles. The value of the seized items is estimated to be Rs 1,80,95,794, he added.

Citizens who are on election duty will exercise their vote through postal ballot. There are 11,000 postal ballot voters in the district. Till date, the election commission has received 7928 applications for the postal ballot votes. “By May 11th the postal ballot voters must obtain the applications,” he directed.