Several places around Calcutta will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday. A ready reckoner of the things one needs to know before stepping out of home on the poll day.
The constituencies near Calcutta that will go to the polls on Monday:
Barrackpore, Hooghly, Howrah, Serampore and Uluberia
The candidates
Barrackpore
BJP: Arjun Singh (winner of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)
TMC: Partha Bhowmick
CPM: Debdut Ghosh
Hooghly
BJP: Locket Chatterjee (winner of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)
TMC: Rachna Banerjee
CPM: Manadip Ghosh
Howrah
TMC: Prasun Banerjee (winner of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)
BJP: Rathin Chakravarty
CPM: Sabyasachi Chatterjee
Serampore
TMC: Kalyan Banerjee (winner of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)
BJP: Kabir Shankar Bose
CPM: Dipsita Dhar
Uluberia
TMC: Sajda Ahmed (winner of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)
BJP: Arunuday Paulchowdhury
Congress: Azahar Mollick
• Voting starts at: 7am
• Voting ends at: 6pm (voters who queue up outside their polling booths before 6pm will be allowed to cast their vote, however long it may take to complete the process)
• Restriction: Usually, Section 144 of the CrPC is imposed on areas within 100m of the polling booths. The radius extends to 200m for sensitive booths.
• Liquor ban in and around the constituencies: Bar and liquor off-shops in the constituencies that are going to the polls, as well as those in the adjoining constituencies, shall remain closed till the voting ends on Monday. The ban took effect at 6pm on Saturday.
• Cash rule: There is no limit on the amount of money one can carry. But for any amount more than Rs 50,000, the person carrying it needs to show documents, whenever asked, citing the source and the destination of the cash. If the person fails to produce the documents, the police will seize the money and the case may be referred to the income tax department.
• Restrictions on carrying jewellery: No such curb is in force. But if one is spotted carrying more than 1kg of jewellery, the matter has to be reported to the income tax department.
• Identity papers one needs to carry while travelling through a constituency going to the polls: As outsiders are not allowed in the areas where elections are being held, one should carry identity cards to establish that he or she is a resident of the area.
• Documents to be carried when one is going to cast his or her vote: Ideally, one should carry the electoral photo identity card (EPIC). A voter can also produce in the polling booth any of the 10 other photo identity cards mentioned by the Election Commission of India, including Aadhaar card, driving licence and passport.
• Restrictions on going to vote in groups: People going to vote in large groups may be questioned. Large gatherings are not allowed in zones where Section 144 of the CrPC is in force. It is better not to go to vote in large groups unless the members are from the same family.
• Parking curb: No vehicle will be allowed within 200m of any polling station.
• Embargo on carrying umbrellas and water bottles: None
• If a voter feels intimidated, he or she can call up the helpline of the Election Commission of India or police.
Election Commission helpline:1950
Police helpline: 100 n Availability of public transport: According to sources in the transport department, a section of private buses will be off the roads. There will also be fewer taxis. Government buses will run, as also app cabs.
Weather: Thunderstorms are expected across south Bengal, including Howrah, Hooghly and North 24-Parganas, on Monday. Rain, accompanied by lightning and gusts of wind, is likely in all three districts.
