District Collector Geromic George who is also the district election officer has issued guidelines for the finale to the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
Peroorkada, Thirumala, Vattiyurkavu, East Fort, Vizhinjam, Pappanamcode, Sreekaryam, Kazhakuttam Kalliyur, Beemapally-Poonthura, Neyyattinkara Town, Attingal Kacherinada, Kilimanoor, Vithura, Varkala Maidanam, Parassala, Udiyankulangara, Venjaramoodu, Vellarada Junction, and Kattakada Junction are the main venues for the ‘Kottikalasam,’ the spirited final outdoor show of strength by political parties ahead of polling.
The guidelines for candidates and political parties for the Kottikalasam stipulate that the Kottikalasam should be held peacefully and conclude at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Shouting provocative slogans and making mic announcements in excess of permitted decibel levels should be avoided.
No candidate or political party should engage in any activity that creates animosity or leads to communal strife. Candidates or their workers should not act in a way that hinders campaigning of other candidates or behave in a provocative manner.
Criticism of other parities should be limited to their policies, schemes and programmes, and previous activities. No announcements that attack candidates’ private lives should be made. No announcements that hurt decency and morality or have nefarious intentions should be made.
Caste or communal sentiments should not be used to ensure votes. Temples, mosques, churches, or other places of worship should not be used as venues for the Kottikalasam.
Only vehicles that have received permits for the finale should be deployed. Candidates should ensure that the Kottikalasam does not hinder the people’s travel and movement. If public property is damaged during the gatherings, legal action will be taken, the District Collector said.
