Election authorities identify 140 places to hold public meetings

The election authorities have identified and demarcated a total of 140 places for public meetings and 214 places for street corner meetings in consultation with the Greater Chennai City Police.

The party or candidate should inform local police authorities of the venue and time of any proposed meeting well in advance so as to make necessary arrangements for controlling traffic and maintaining peace and order, the police said.

A senior police officer said, “The election officials concerned and the police have identified these places spread across the city. In our jurisdiction and Chennai district alone, there are 112 places marked as meeting places that are meant for public meetings and 179 places for street corner meetings. The party or individual will have to apply through an mobile application called Suvidha 2.0, which was launched by the Election Commission of India (EC).”

Once a candidate or a party applies through the application, the returning officer will forward it to the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned. It will be sent to the police inspector of the jurisdiction concerned for inspection and after visiting the place, the inspector will forward the report and no-objection will be given quickly, he said.

The mobile application allows candidates to check the status of their nominations and permissions.

The EC guidelines said that a party or a candidate should ascertain in advance if there is any restrictive or prohibitory order in force in the proposed place. If such orders exist, they should be followed strictly. If any exemption is required from such orders, it should be applied for and obtained well in advance.

Use of loudspeakers

If permission or licence is to be obtained for the use of loudspeakers or any other facility in connection with any proposed meeting, the party or candidate should apply to the authority concerned well in advance.

Organisers of a meeting should invariably seek the assistance of the police on duty for dealing with persons attempting to create disorder.

Organisers themselves should not take action against such persons, the guidelines said.

Political parties and candidates should ensure that their supporters do not obstruct or break up meetings organised by other parties. Posters put up by one party should not be removed by workers of another party. “Permission/NoC will be given to the individual fulfilling all conditions stipulated by EC. Moreover, it will be given on a first-come-first-served basis for any applicant,” said the officer.