The Election Commission of India has asked political parties not to release their manifesto in the 48-hour period before polling.

The restriction applies across the country, which means a regional party in Tamil Nadu cannot release its manifesto in the 48-hour period before polling in Kashmir.

The directive has been issued to prevent campaign activity even on television during the prohibitory period.

In 2014, the BJP had released its manifesto on April 7, the first day of polling.

Until now, only campaigning was prohibited in the 48-hour window. On Friday the poll panel asked parties and politicians to “refrain from addressing the media by way of press conferences and giving interviews on election matters” during the prohibitory period.

Mosque monitors

Delhi’s BJP unit has asked Delhi’s chief electoral officer Ranbir Singh to appoint “special observers in mosques to prevent hate speech”.