Campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections has formally concluded. As per the existing rules, political parties are required to enter a ' silence period ' 48 hours before voting ends. Section 126 of the Representation of The People Act has provisions for the "prohibition of public meetings during a period of forty-eight hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll", while Section 126A places restrictions on the publication and dissemination of exit poll results before voting ends.
The logic is that discussion about such surveys ahead of voting can influence people. A 'silence period' allows both election authorities and political parties to take care of the logistics. While poll officials work to ensure that all arrangements are in place to conduct elections in a fair and peaceful fashion, political parties and their cadres firm up arrangements to get out the vote.
Away from the hustle and din of campaigning, the 'silence period' allows the voter, the most important person in this entire drill, time to cement their decision and exercise their democratic right. Authorities ensure that no public meetings are held by a party or candidate in a poll-bound area after the end of the campaign period, thus providing a level-playing field to all contestants. Only door-to-door campaigning is allowed.
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