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ECI Mandates Pre-Certification for Print Ads in Poll-Bound States

The Election Commission of India has issued guidelines requiring pre-certification for political advertisements in print media on the day of polling and the day prior. The rules apply to the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, as well as bye-elections. Applications for certification must be submitted to state or district-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committees at least two days before publication. The Commission also reported enforcement actions resulting in seizures worth over Rs 650 crore to prevent inducements during the elections.

Key Points: ECI Issues Pre-Certification Rules for Political Print Ads

  • Pre-certification required for print ads
  • Rules for poll day and prior day
  • State and district MCMCs activated
  • Over Rs 650 crore seized in enforcement
  • Vigilance against paid news
2 min read

ECI issues guidelines on pre-certification of political ads in print media

Election Commission mandates prior approval for political print ads on poll days to ensure fair campaigning. Guidelines cover five states and UTs.

"no political party, candidate... shall publish any advertisement... without prior certification - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, April 6

The Election Commission of India on Monday issued detailed guidelines on the pre-certification of political advertisements in print media for the upcoming Assembly elections and bye-elections, aimed at ensuring a free and fair campaign environment.

The Commission had earlier, on March 15, announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in six states.

As part of its measures, the ECI stated that no political party, candidate, organisation, or individual shall publish any advertisement in print media on the poll day or one day prior to it without prior certification from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) at the state or district level.

The Commission clarified that individual candidates and other applicants may approach the District MCMC for certification, while recognised political parties headquartered in a state or union territory can apply to the state-level MCMC.

According to the poll schedule, pre-certification of print advertisements will be mandatory on specific dates.

For Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, where polling will be held on April 9, pre-certification will be required for advertisements published on April 8 and 9.

For Tamil Nadu, going to the polls on April 23, pre-certification will apply to advertisements on April 22 and 23.

In West Bengal, which will have polling in two phases on April 23 and April 29, pre-certification will be mandatory on April 22 and 23 for Phase I, and April 28 and 29 for Phase II.

The ECI has directed that applications for pre-certification must be submitted at least two days prior to the intended publication date. To facilitate this process, MCMCs at both the state and district levels have been activated to examine and approve advertisements promptly.

Additionally, the committees have been tasked with maintaining strict vigilance against instances of paid news in the media and taking appropriate action wherever necessary.

Meanwhile, the Commission on April 5 reported significant enforcement action in poll-bound states. It said that agencies have seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and freebies worth over Rs 650 crore so far, in a bid to ensure inducement-free elections.

According to the ECI, a total seizure of Rs 651.51 crore has been recorded since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, indicating heightened monitoring and strict enforcement measures across election-bound regions.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good move, but implementation is key. Will the district-level committees have the capacity and impartiality to handle this fairly, especially in highly charged states like West Bengal? The seizure figures of ₹650+ crore show how much money is in play. Strict vigilance is needed. 👍
A
Arjun K
Finally! Last-minute ad blitzes with false promises or personal attacks should be stopped. The two-day prior submission rule makes sense. Let's hope this brings some sanity to the campaign. The focus should be on real issues like development and employment.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, I appreciate the structured approach. The phased dates for different states show good planning. The massive seizures mentioned are alarming—it highlights why such strict ad regulations are necessary to prevent undue influence.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, while the intention is good, this adds another layer of bureaucracy. What if a candidate needs to respond quickly to a false allegation? The "two days prior" rule might be used to stifle legitimate counter-campaigning. The ECI must ensure the process is transparent and swift.
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Kavya N
This is a welcome guideline. The mention of action against 'paid news' is crucial. Many local newspapers run biased stories disguised as news. Hope the MCMCs have the teeth to penalize media houses involved in this. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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