PRIYANKA'S HIMACHAL RALLY CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's proposed visit to Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday was cancelled due to bad weather. She was scheduled to address a rally in Sundernagar in support of Mandi Congress candidate Aashray Sharma. Aashray is pitted against sitting BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma. He is the grandson of former Union Minister Sukh Ram. Aashray's father Anil Sharma has recently resigned from the state cabinet. All four seats in Himachal Pradesh will go to the polls on May 19.
HIMACHAL CEO REVIEWS POLL PREPAREDNESS
Himachal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Devesh Kumar on Tuesday reviewed poll preparedness with Returning Officers, District Electoral Officers and Assistant Returning Officers at Shimla. Addressing the officers, CEO asked them to ensure connectivity and maintenance of roads alongwith necessary facilities to be made available in all the polling stations and counting centres in the state for smooth conduct of poll process in the Lok Sabha Election. The CEO also reviewed webcasting to be conducted at different places in the state during the election. Detailed guidelines were provided to officers for counting of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS).
EC ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY FOR PUNJAB’S PRESIDING, POLLING OFFICERS ON MAY 20
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced a holiday on May 20, 2019, for Punjab’s presiding and polling officers. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju said that as per ECI order, the presiding or polling officers will not be treated as absent from their normal duty, if they do not report for their duty on their normal duties on next day of polling day.
EC ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY IN PUNJAB ON MAY 19
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced a holiday on May 19, 2019, in view of the parliamentary constituency election in Punjab to facilitate the voters to exercise their franchise to vote. Punjab CEO Dr S Karuna Raju said that as per the provisions of Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and instructions issued by the ECI, the employers of industrial establishments, commercial establishments, shops and establishments can have a paid holiday on the date of polling in Punjab on May 19.
PUNJAB ORDERS OBSERVANCE OF ‘DRY DAY’ PERIOD 48 HOURS PRIOR TO POLLING
Punjab Government on Tuesday issued directions to ensure the strict compliance of the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI) concerning observance of the ‘Dry Day’ period on the polling day of the Parliamentary Constituency poll in the state. Punjab CEO Dr S Karuna Raju said that as per the ECI guidelines, the sale of liquor will be prohibited in the State of Punjab 48 hours prior to the polling day and ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll, that is 6 pm on May 19, 2019. Similarly, the prohibition of sale of liquor in three kilometres of adjoining areas of neighbouring states will also be ensured through concerned departments of those states to stop any clandestine movement of liquor from those areas.
STRENGTH OF TRUTHFULNESS WILL ENSURE MY VICTORY: SUNNY
Dera Baba Nanak: Continuing holding road shows to connect with the people, the BJP-SAD candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency Sunny Deol on Tuesday said that his truthfulness will ensure victory for him. “My victory will be the victory of people’s confidence in me,” said Sunny after holding road shows in different villages of Dera Baba Nanak assembly constituency. He said that he would be fortunate enough to serve this land of gurus. “I am already aware of several problems of the border areas, which will be resolved on priority basis,” he said while calling upon the people to ensure his victory to make their dreams come true.
RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SCHEME IS KEY ELECTION ISSUE: MANN
Chandigarh: Batting for the restoration of old pension scheme (2004) for the government employees, AAP’s Punjab unit president and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi had already given its nod to restore the old pension scheme for government employees and now, “it is the turn of the Punjab government to follow suit”. Mann said that the Capt Amarinder Singh Government had, like other categories of people, befooled the employees in the State, and it should move a resolution in the coming assembly session to expedite the matter.
