Mangalore : Deputy Commissioner N Prakash who is also the District Election Officer has said that the poll code of conduct will have to be strictly adhered to by the political parties and their candidates.

Speaking to reporters here on March 1, Friday, the DC said  the administration was all set to ensure a free and fair elections to local administrative bodies. The DC informed that loudspeakers can be used for campaigning only from 7 am to 10 pm and that the campaigning will end at 7 am on March 6.

Continuing the DC said the candidates can use vehicles during campaigning after duly obtaining the permission of the election officer and the sticker provided will have to be pasted on the vehicle.

He said on the day of election campaigning is prohibited within a radius of 100 meter from the polling booth and added political parties can set up booth level camps 100 meters away from the polling booth. However no political flag or symbol can be displayed.

Though candidates and election agents can use upto a maximum of five vehicles on election day, with due permission of the authorities no vehicle can be used to transport voters to and fro the polling booths.

He said in MCC limits, a candidate can spend a maximum of Rs 3 lakhs for campaigning, while the limit fixed is  Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs one lakh in  TMC and Town Panchayat limits repsectively. Information regarding expenditure will have to be  furnished to the authorities.

Any complaint regarding violation of poll code of conduct can be   made by calling 9448128199 in MCC limits, 9480878000  in Moodbidri, Ullal and Bantwal, while people  from Puttur, Belthangady and Sullia can call 9036278507.

 Additional DC Dayananda, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar were also present.