New Delhi: Delhi will observe dry days from Friday to Sunday during which the sale of alcohol will be prohibited due to the MCD elections, the city excise department has announced.


The election of 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in the national capital is on Sunday. The counting of votes will be done on December 7.


The excise department has announced that December 7 will also be observed as a dry day.


In a notification, Delhi Commissioner (Excise) Krishna Mohan Uppu on Wednesday said that in pursuance of the provisions of Rule 52 of Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, it is hereby ordered that December 2 to December 4 and December 7 will be observed as "Dry Days".


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Dry days are days when the government prohibits the sale of alcohol in shops, clubs, bars, etc. on a specific day "From 17:30 Hours of December 2, 2022 (Friday) to December 4, 2022, up to 17:30 Hours (Sunday), the above shall be observed as 'Dry Days' in addition to the Dry Days," the notification said.


Also, "from 00:00 Hours to 24:00 Hours on December 7, 2022 (Wednesday) (date of counting of votes), will also be observed as a dry day," the notification added.


The civic polls, spanning 250 wards, are due on December 4. The polls are largely being seen as a contest between the AAP, the BJP and the Congress. 


Micro Observers Deployed At Sensitive, Hypersensitive Polling Locations


The State Election Commission on Wednesday deployed 493 micro observers at sensitive and hypersensitive polling locations in Delhi ahead of the December 4 civic polls, officials said.


These micro observers will remain stationed at these locations throughout the polling day and keep a close watch at the proceedings at the booths, the SEC, Delhi said in a statement.


The votes will be counted on December 7, and 1,349 candidates are contesting the election.


"The Commission today has deployed 493 micro observers at sensitive/hypersensitive polling locations. It has also issued instructions for webcasting at these sensitive/hypersensitive polling locations," it said.


The SEC has also launched the web interface of the mobile app 'Nigam Chunav Delhi' wherein the functionalities of the app have been integrated with the web portal of the Commission.


"The Commission has also launched a WhatsApp message facility through mobile number 9807980779. To use this facility, voters have to first send 'Hi' and then send their voter card number to this mobile number. In return, the voter will get information of ward number, ward name and polling station address, in the form of downloadable voter slips," the statement said.


Besides, the voters can also send an SMS -- SEC followed by the 10-digit EPIC number on 7738299899 -- to get all relevant voter information, it said.


The helpline number of the Commission -- 23999999 -- is already functional for the citizens to seek any information or assistance related to MCD elections, it said.


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