BJP manifesto blackout in northeast areas voting Monday

Electors in Assam and Tripura, voting in Monday's first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha, will cast their ballot unaware of the BJP's unified vision of development and prescription for economic revival, differences over which have reportedly delayed the party manifesto's release.

Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told the media in Kolkata that while there was no link between the release of election manifesto and the polling date, the media could not carry details of the manifesto in those areas where campaigning has ended.

"Election manifesto can release at any point of time. There is no relationship between manifesto and polling date. However, telecast of manifesto in polling areas is prohibited. There is penal action for that," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto is set to be launched Monday coinciding with the start of Lok Sabha elections in five seats of Assam and one in Tripura.

"Section 126, part 1b of the election rules prohibits any propaganda by parties in the 48 hours leading to the opening of the polls," a senior Election Commission official told IANS in Delhi.

"There cannot, therefore, be any dissemination of a party's manifesto by any media in areas going to vote in the first phase of polling," he added.