2 Days Before Voting Day

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In the period of 48 hours (2 days) before voting day, all election related campaigning stops – it is called the silence period. This applies to both State and General (for example, Lok Sabha) elections.

No one – citizens, journalists, candidates, election agents, movie actors, theatre artists, etc. – is allowed to do any election related campaigning.

The following is not allowed 48 hours before polling:

The presence of party workers from outside the constituency in the constituency.¹
Holding Public Meetings
Advertisements through television and radio.
Conducting conferences and interviews
Ban on Liquor

If anyone, including candidates and political parties, violates any of these provisions and campaigns within the silence period, they will be punished with jail time of up to 2 years and/or fine.

Subheading 8.2, Chapter 8, Manual of Model Code of Conduct, Election Commission of India (can be found here – https://eci.gov.in/files/file/9375-manual-on-model-code-of-conduct/ [↩]

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