The Manipur government has declared “dry day” on November 7 and November 10 in view of the by-election.
Voting in four Assembly constituencies spread over three districts of Manipur will take place on November 7 and the counting on November 10.
Manipur Excise department declared the two days (voting day and counting day) as ‘dry day’ in the whole of the state under section 135C of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 and in exercise of the power conferred under section 17(3) of Eastern Bengal Assam Excise Act, 1910 which is extended in the state too, an official notification by the Excise department said on Friday.
The notice announced prohibition of selling, giving and distribution of spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquor or other substance of like nature in shops and any other place public or private within a polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll for election in the polling areas.
The prohibition covers all the liquor licence holders including exempted categories, the notice added.
Since the enforcement of election code of conduct for the by-polls in September last week, the enforcement team of the state Excise department has been conducting special drives against the liquor and other intoxicants across the state, particularly in the poll-bound districts.
By-polls to fill four Assembly constituencies of the Manipur Legislative Assembly will be held on Saturday (November 7) amid the grim time of COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 11 candidates are in the fray.
A total of 1,33,136 voters will cast the votes in 203 polling stations spread across the four Assembly constituencies – Wangoi in Imphal West district, Lilong and Wangjing-Tentha in Thoubal district and Saitu (ST) in Kangpokpi district.
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