Bengaluru: The last day is May 8 for the open campaign of the state Assembly election which has gained attention of the country, and the curtain will close on the open campaigning at 6.00 pm. After that there will be a ‘silence period’ followed by a ‘door to door’ campaign.
BJP, Congress and JD (S) parties have been conducting endless exercises for a month to win the hearts of the voters and rise to the throne of the state. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J. P. Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cheered for the BJP in Karnataka, Congress Supremo Sonia Gandhi, AICC Leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra, AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and other party leaders campaigned for the Congress party. Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, Former CM H. D. Kumaraswamy, party State President C. M. Ibrahim have campaigned for JD (S).
Polling will be held on May 10, and according to the Election Commission guidelines, open campaigning should end 48 hours before that. This 48 hour period is known as “silence period”. No open campaign is allowed during this period. The party’s star campaigners and non-voters of the constituency should leave the constituency after 6.00 pm on May 8. Accordingly, Former Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his campaign on May 7. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka will campaign openly on May 8 also.
A “Silence Period” and “Dry Day” will be in effect from 6.00 pm on May 8 till the end of voting on May 10. Open campaigning and use of loudspeakers will be prohibited during this period. In addition, Section 144 will be implemented in each Assembly constituencies. Not more than 5 people can join the group. But this is not applicable for door-to-door promotion. Election Code of Conduct should be strictly followed during door-to-door campaigning as well. Personal criticism of competitors, no abuse, hate speech, and words that inflame religious sentiments will be prohibited.