No election speeches on Republic Day functions: EC

Moga, Jan 17 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) will monitor the addresses by ministers during the Republic Day functions across Punjab to ensure that the occasion is not used by politicians to make election speeches or highlight the government's achievements.

The EC has directed Deputy Commissioners in Punjab to inform the ministers who are scheduled to visit their respective districts to address the Republic Day functions on January 26 to desist from making election speeches.

Mr S K Sharma, deputy commissioner cum returning officer, today said all the Republic Day functions would be attended by the election observers appointed by the EC. All the proceedings of these functions will be videotaped, he added.

Republic Day functions will not be used as platforms to highlight the achievements of the government, he added.

The notification for the assembly elections and the Amritsar parliamentary constituency will be issued tomorrow and the nominations would continue till January 25. Scrutiny will be on January 27 and January 29 will be the last date for withdrawal of nominations. Polling will be on February 13 and counting of votes on February 27.

UNI