ECI issues directive to media houses

Advertisements in print media on poll day and one day prior to poll only after pre-certification of contents through MCMC

DIMAPUR, APRIL 4 (MExN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed that no political party or candidate or any other organisation or person shall publish any advertisement in the print media on poll day and one day prior to poll day, unless the contents of political advertisement are pre-certified by the ECI through the MCMC Committee at the State/District level.
A DIPR report, quoting an ECI notification, said this directive is issued while taking cognizance of advertisements of offending and misleading nature published in print media in the past.

The Commission said this will apply in the case of political advertisements to be published in the print media in circulation in the States/UTs going to poll in phases (see table). It also informed that concerned applicants shall have to apply to MCMC not later than 2 (two) days prior to the proposed date of publication of advertisement. 

The Commission further directed that in order to facilitate the process of pre-certification of the newspaper advertisements and as instructed above, MCMC at State/District level be immediately alerted and activated in order to examine and pre-certify all such advertisements received from the political parties and candidates and others. It should also be ensured that the decision by MCMC is made expeditiously.

The above direction is also being brought to the notice of Presidents of all political parties, contesting candidates and newspapers in the State and also to all media of mass communication for general information and strict compliance, the Commission stated.