Kumar Bahukhandi
Raipur: The Election Commission of India has given comprehensive guidelines regarding preventing the publication of advertisements of misleading nature in electronic and social media as well as print media for the Raipur City (South) Assembly bypoll . Under this, pre-certification of political advertisements published in print media on the polling date of November 13, 2024 and a day before that for the by-election is necessary.
Chief Electoral Officer Reena Babasaheb Kangale, while giving information about the circular issued by the Election Commission of India in this regard, said that this will be mandatory for advertisements published in print media on the polling day and a day before it. As per the instructions of the Commission, pre-certification of advertisements from the district or state level media certification committee has been made mandatory before the publication of political advertisements in print media on the polling day and a day before it.
For this, the Election Commission of India has directed the state level and district level media certification committee to take quick decision on the application received for certification. It has also been clarified that the applicants should be submitted to the Media Certification Committee at least two days before the proposed publication date of such advertisement.
Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Kangale said that after the publication of advertisements of misleading nature in the print media before the polling day and on the polling date, the parties or candidates who are affected by it do not have any opportunity to give any kind of clarification or denial. In such a situation, for free, transparent and fair elections, pre-certification of advertisements is necessary before publishing political advertisements in print media one day before the polling day and on the polling date.
