New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar and by-elections in several states, the Election Commission (ECI) has taken a significant step towards political advertisements. The commission said on Tuesday that political parties and candidates contesting elections will have to apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for pre-certification of political advertisements on electronic media, including social media, before publication.
The Election Commission has also asked candidates contesting elections to share their certification social media accounts while filing nominations. The Election Commission has taken this decision with the aim of ensuring equal opportunity, free and fair elections.
Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. Assembly bypolls to six states and eight seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on November 11. Counting of votes will take place on November 14.
Mandatory to apply in MCMC
The Election Commission said it has issued an order on October 9, making it mandatory for all registered/national and state-level political parties and every candidate contesting elections to apply to the MCMC for pre-certification of all political advertisements on social media, including social media, before publication.
MCMC was formed
MCMCs have been constituted at the district and state levels for pre-certification of political advertisements as per the prescribed guidelines. “””No political advertisement will be issued on any internet-based media/website including social media websites by political parties/candidates without pre-certification from the concerned MCMC,”” the Election Commission said.”
MCMC will also keep a close watch on suspected cases of paid news in the media and take appropriate action. In view of the increasing penetration of social media in the election scenario, the Election Commission said that candidates have also been directed to share the details of their authentic social media accounts while filing nominations.
As per Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the directions of the Supreme Court of India, political parties must also submit to the Election Commission the details of expenditure incurred on publicity through social media websites, including online, within 75 days of the end of the Assembly elections.
The Election Commission said such expenses would, among other things, include payments made to internet companies and websites to advertise, campaign-related expenses on content developers and operational expenses incurred to maintain their social media accounts.
