High-voltage campaigning in Meghalaya ends with commencement of 48-hour silence period

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 17, 2024

High voltage campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the Shillong and Tura parliamentary seats came to an end at 4pm on Wednesday with the commencement of a 48-hour silence period.

Polling will be held on April 19.

The different political parties ended their campaigning with a show of strength.

There are six candidates contesting from the Shillong parliamentary constituency. They are sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala, NPP candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh, RDA candidate Robertjune Kharjahrin, VPP candidate Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon, independent candidates – Prof Lakhon Kma and Peter Challam.

Chief electoral officer (CEO) Dr BDR Tiwari said that the silence period has commenced and that political parties can no longer hold rallies and other active campaigning except going door to door to meet people.

“One to one campaign and personal interaction will be there but no formal campaigning can be taken up by political parties during the silence period,” Tiwari added.

The district magistrate of East Khasi Hills has issued an order promulgating section 144 CrPC which prohibited any sort of unlawful assemblies and holding of public meetings or any activities during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of poll.

The order also prohibits the use of Loudspeakers without taking due permission.

The order came into effect with the imposition of the “Campaign Silence Period”, inter-alia which prohibits election campaign activities, public meetings, processions, etc, and displaying of election matters by means of television, print and electronic media or any similar apparatus.