Indian Election Commission Issues Guidelines for Candidates Ahead of Polling Day

Ahead of the first phase of polling, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued guidelines that no candidate can leave their assembly constituency from 6 am on the day of polling till the end of polling. Polling will be held at 152 centres in 16 districts on Thursday. The ECI has said that candidates will have to stay in their assembly constituency during the polling. The ECI has said that no one can create any disturbance or create any ruckus. Every candidate has to ensure that the election is fair, peaceful and people can exercise their franchise in a democratic manner. The ECI has written to the state DGP with a list of criminals. According to the Commission, 506 people have been arrested so far under non-bailable sections by the police. This is not new. Preventive arrest orders have been issued by the ECI before every election. However, this time the picture is completely different.