Permission mandatory for poll campaign on electronic media

East Godavari District Collector and District Election Officer K Madhavilatha has made it clear that permission must be taken for election campaigns through electronic media.
The Collector held the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) meeting here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector said that permissions should be given to the candidates strictly following the Election Commission’s guidelines for the campaign on electronic media.
The Collector told the officials that reports should be submitted to the respective teams regarding advertisements, campaign items, payment news violations of Election Commission guidelines and details of expenses. Political parties and candidates should apply for permission at least 48 hours in advance, the Collector stated.
Further, the relevant documents should be submitted to the Returning Officer through prescribed form-A, she said adding that the examination will be done under the MCMC and the certificate will be issued in the name of the candidates. Advertisements broadcast in electronic media are informed that prior approvals are mandatory.
She said; “To identify the contents of the video to be broadcast, the contents will be carefully examined and confirmed, and then only permissions will be given. Arrangements are being made to closely monitor what is coming on the magazines, channels, radio, FM channels and on social media.”
In the case of filing the nomination, the candidates will have to inform the social media details and the social media promoting agency. On the day of the elections and the day before that, no advertisements are allowed in print and electronic media, besides, the political parties, candidates, media and printers should be informed and take necessary steps to clear the doubts, the Collector clarified.
DRO G Narasimhulu, Rajahmundry Parliamentary Assistant Returning Officer R Krishna Naik, DPRO CH Srinivas and AIR station in-charge KVSM Murthy were among those who attended the meeting.