Thiruvananthapuram: The month-long campaign for the by-election concluded yesterday with a grand finale. Now, the last hour of silent campaigning has begun.
In the constituencies of Chelakkara and Wayanad, the campaign workers today are engaging in silent door-to-door outreach to secure votes. The candidates are focused on meeting as many voters as possible, including introducing new voters to the voting machines and ensuring their commitment to vote. Booth-level squads are demonstrating how the voting machines work. In addition, the candidates’ main activity today includes meetings with prominent citizens to secure support.
Both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are confident of securing a strong victory after the end of the campaign. Voting machines will be distributed from the Cheruthuruthy School to the constituencies in Chelakkara. A total of 236 machines, including the VVPAT machines, have been set up to cover 180 booths, with extra machines in place to account for potential breakdowns. Priyanka Gandhi will remain in Wayanad until the day after tomorrow.
In light of the by-election, a public holiday has been declared for Wayanad district on November 13. This applies to all government and public sector institutions, as well as educational institutions, in the district. According to the Negotiable Instruments Act, November 13 will be a holiday in the district.
Private commercial and industrial establishments, as well as other private institutions, are advised to grant paid leave to their employees on that day. Furthermore, all government and private sector employees working outside their constituencies will also be granted a paid holiday to vote in their respective districts.
For employees working outside their home districts, employers must grant special permission to allow them to vote in their home polling stations. This paid leave applies to casual/day wage workers in sectors like IT and plantations as well.
Additionally, public holidays have been declared for all government and public sector institutions, as well as educational institutions, in the Eranadu, Vandoor, and Nilambur constituencies of the Malappuram district, under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Private commercial and industrial establishments, as well as other private institutions, are also required to grant paid leave to their employees. Employees in these constituencies will be granted paid leave for the by-election on November 13.
