Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Monday said that criticism of other political parties and candidates should be limited only to their policies, programmes, past records and actions. He further said that the Election Commission of India has issued detailed guidelines of ‘Do's and Don'ts’ for candidates and political parties for the Haryana Assembly elections. These guidelines are required to be followed till the completion of the election process.

He said, “All parties and contesting candidates should have fair access to public places like grounds and helipads. Local police officials should be informed and necessary permission for the time and place of the proposed meeting should be taken in a timely manner,” he added.

Agarwal said that if any restrictive or prohibitory orders are in force at the place of the proposed meeting, then those orders should be respected. Similarly, permission should be obtained for the use of loudspeakers or any other such facility for the proposed meetings and police assistance should be obtained in dealing with persons who create disturbance or disorder in the meetings.  Any complaint or problem regarding the conduct of election should be brought to the notice of the Election Commission Observer, Returning Officer, Zonal/Sector Magistrate, Chief Electoral Officer or Election Commission of India.

The CEO said the orders or guidelines of the Election Commission or Returning Officer or District Election Officer should be strictly followed in all matters related to various aspects of the election.  The Chief Electoral Officer said loudspeakers should not be used on vehicles between 10 pm and 6 am.

CANDIDATES TO SUBMIT DETAILS OF ELECTION EXPENDITURE WITHIN A MONTH OF RESULTS

The Chief Electoral officer said that Candidates contesting the Assembly elections in Haryana will have to submit the details of their election expenditure to the office of the District Election Officer within one month after the election results are declared. According to the Election Commission of India, candidates who do not give the details of election expenditure within the stipulated time period may be disqualified from contesting elections in the future, he added.