New Delhi, March 21, IPU Media Update News: In light of the upcoming Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a significant announcement. On Friday, it issued directives mandating that all political parties and candidates obtain prior certification from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) before releasing any political advertisements on electronic and social media platforms. A press release to this effect was subsequently issued.

According to the press release issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI):
No political advertisements shall be released on TV, radio, public display screens, e-papers, bulk SMS/voice messages, internet-based media, or social media platforms without the prior approval of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). Registered political parties with headquarters located within the respective State or Union Territory must apply to the State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee for the certification of their advertisements. Conversely, candidates contesting the elections are required to submit their applications for advertisement approval to the District-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has also constituted an Appellate Committee at the state level, headed by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), to adjudicate appeals filed against the decisions made by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMCs).

** Complete details regarding campaign expenditure must be submitted within 75 days of the conclusion of Assembly elections **

In a statement, the ECI emphasized that MCMCs must strictly monitor instances of “paid news” the practice of publishing news reports in the media in exchange for money. It further directed the MCMCs to initiate appropriate action against individuals or entities found engaging in such practices. Furthermore, in light of the growing influence of social media on elections, the EC clarified that candidates are required to provide details of their official social media accounts at the time of filing their nomination papers. In accordance with Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and recent directives issued by the Supreme Court, political parties are mandated to submit complete details of their campaign expenditure to the ECI within 75 days of the conclusion of Assembly elections. The Commission advised political parties that their expenditure reports must mandatorily include all payments made to digital platforms for advertisements, as well as costs incurred for content creation, campaigning, and the maintenance of social media accounts.

** Key Meeting Held by the Central Election Commission **

Meanwhile, to ensure the rigorous enforcement of these regulations and to curb the spread of misinformation, malicious propaganda, and fake news during the electoral process, the Central Election Commission convened a crucial meeting on March 19. The meeting was attended by the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states and Union Territories where elections are scheduled to take place, along with State Police Nodal Officers, State IT Nodal Officers, and representatives from various social media platforms. Meanwhile, Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Polling will take place on April 9 in Kerala and Puducherry, while in Bengal, it will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and 29. Similarly, polling in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for April 23. The election results for all these states are set to be released on May 4.

— M Venkata T Reddy, News Editor and Investigative Journalist.