Dimapur, February 16 (MExN): Apropos the news item titled ‘Former office bearers of BJP Dimapur-III allege discrimination’ published on February 16, the Media Certification and Monitoring Cell (MCMC) team of Dimapur has clarified that it had denied approval for publishing the said item as it violates Rule 39 of the Conduct of Elections 1961, wherein it directs to maintain secrecy of vote by electors.
A clarification note from the Dimapur MCMC team referred to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer letter Red.ELE-SVEEP-GEN/19/2017/251 dated 7th June 2017, which mentioned that ‘Rule 39 of the Conduct of Elections 1961 DIRECTS to maintain secrecy of the votes by electors.’
“Open declaration of support in favour of a particular candidate/ political party by village/ ward/ khel or community through public announcement and even through publication of electronic/ print media etc violates the above provision,” the clarification added.
Therefore, on the ground mentioned under Rule 39, the MCMC team rejects such publication as it violates the stated provision, the MCMC team noted.
As the MCMC team has to follow the guidelines, it said, the concerned party cannot term it discriminatory.
In the above mentioned news item, former office bearers of BJP Dimapur-III had questioned the neutrality of the district administration on the ground that the MCMC had turned down their request to publish news of their resignation from the party in the print media in the form of advertisement.
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