Karnataka bans voters from carrying mobile phones to polling stations
Bengaluru: Abiding by the order of Election Commission on India that was issued in 2007, banning mobile phones inside polling booths, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed that the order will be ‘strictly implemented’ this time in the state during both phases of polling on April 18 and 23 in Karnataka.
“Though the standing order was issued by Election Commission of India way back in 2007, it will be implemented strictly this time” Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, Sanjiv Kumar said while speaking to media.
“This year the security officials and presiding officers have been strictly instructed to prevent electors from carrying mobile phones inside the polling booth. In fact they will have to leave it 100 meters away from the polling stations. The ECI cannot arrange the facility for storage of Mobile phones hence it is on electors to not carry mobile phones or cameras with them” Kumar said.
Another poll official admitted that though the Model Code of Conduct has had the ban provision since 2007, it was not implemented during the previous elections for reasons such as shortage of manpower among others.
Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits electronic devices at polling stations. The Act also mandates maintenance of secrecy at polling booths, which the officials afraid is compromised with voters carrying mobile phones.
However, polling officials, security personnel, presiding officers and agents of candidates will be allowed to carry and use mobile phones at polling station.
Karnataka has 58,186 polling booths for 28 seats this year where about 5.11 crore people will cast their votes including 2.6 crore males and 2.5 crores females and 4661 other voters.
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India-Oman free trade pact to give new energy to bilateral relations: PM Modi
Muscat (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman will give new confidence and energy to the bilateral relations.
Speaking at the India-Oman Business Summit here, the visiting Prime Minister said the summit will give a new direction to the India-Oman partnership.
"Today, we are taking such a historic decision, the echo of which will be heard for many decades to come. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that is, CEPA, will give our partnership new confidence and new energy in the 21st century," the prime minister said.
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He said India’s nature has always been progressive and self-driven.
Whenever India grows, it helps its friends grow as well, Modi said and added India is progressing towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.
"This is beneficial for the entire world. However, it is even more beneficial for Oman because, in addition to being close friends, we are also maritime neighbours. Our people know each other well. We have generations of trust in our business relations, and we understand each other’s markets very well," he said.
Modi invited companies from Oman to become partner in the growth story. He said India's economy is growing at a high rate because over the past 11 years, India has not just changed policies, but has also changed its economic DNA.
He informed the gathering about the reforms, including GST and IBC, India has implemented in the recent years.
Modi arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit.
India-Oman bilateral trade was about USD 10.5 billion (exports USD 4 billion and imports USD 6.54 billion) in 2024-25.
#WATCH | Muscat, Oman: At the India-Oman Business Summit, PM Narendra Modi says, "Today, we are making a historic decision whose echo will be heard for decades to come. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will fill us with new trust and new energy in the 21st… pic.twitter.com/NkJNADb8Rn
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2025
