Poll code norms to cover marriage halls, printers

Chairing a meeting he convened at the Collectorate here on Tuesday, he instructed marriage hall owners to ensure that their premises were used only for weddings. Distribution of free food, saris and dhotis under the aegis of any organisation should not be allowed in their halls and if they witnessed any such activity then they should communicate it to the polling official. Similarly, they should refrain from renting their halls to accommodate groups, small or big, till the end of the poll code period.

For those involved in banner trade, the Collector said no hoardings with faces and pictures of political leaders should be allowed to be put up in front of meeting venues and marriage halls. They should be removed or else the information should be passed on to poll officials, he added. Similarly, lodge owners were instructed to let out rooms only after procuring photocopies of the Aadhaar cards from guests. Strangers, especially those from other states, who have come for campaigning should be made to vacate rooms soon after the end of the campaign. He also advised them to alert the poll officials if they spot person/s with lethal weapons or explosive substances.

Printers and publishers were asked to ensure that the names and phone numbers of the persons, who place orders for banners and handbills, should be clearly specified on the first page and three copies of all poll-related printed material should be forwarded to polling officials within three days from the date of completion of the jobs, he said.

DRO J Parthiban and PA (elections) K Rajkumar were present.