Lok Sabha election 2024 Bengaluru: Here's what's closed and what's open today

Bengaluru prepares for voting day: Schools, offices closed, liquor sales banned. Essential services to remain operational.

Updated on: Apr 26, 2024, 06:17:52 IST

By Yamini C S

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The southern state of Karnataka is set to go into voting on Friday for as many as 14 seats as part of Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha election. In this light, several institutions, offices and services are set to be closed. Let's check what to expect today in the city of Bengaluru.

Karnataka residents will vote for 14 seats on April 26, and for another remaining 14 seats on May 7. (AFP Photo)

What is closed in Bengaluru today?

Closures are anticipated in various segments, adhering to the customary practice during elections. This includes schools, colleges, and similar educational institutions in Bengaluru, alongside non-essential government services.

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Corporate offices are mandated to grant leave to their employees, ensuring their participation in the voting process as per legal obligations.

The Karnataka High Court has also declared a general holiday for its Benches on April 26 and May 7 - the voting days in Karnataka, the Deccan Herald reported. Banks will also observe a holiday and follow suit in closure.

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Bengaluru is also observing three dry days as officials have temporarily suspended all liquor sales in the city in view of voting. The liquor sale ban has come into effect from 5 pm on Wednesday, April 24, and will be lifted only after midnight on April 26, according to a directive from the Bengaluru city police department.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC is also being enforced in the city, starting from 6 pm on April 24 until midnight on April 26. The order stipulates the prohibition of gatherings exceeding five individuals, rallies, public meetings, possession of lethal weapons and explosives, display and burning of effigies, delivery of provocative speeches, and public chanting of political slogans.

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What is open in Bengaluru today?

All essential services including public transport such as the BMTC, BMRCL, and hospitals will continue to function uninterrupted. Commercial establishments are expected to operate, albeit with delayed commencement to facilitate their eligible employees' early voting on election day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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