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DIMAPUR — The Election Commission of India (ECI), in exercise of powers under Article 324 of the Constitution, directed that no political party or candidate or any other organisation or person should publish any advertisement in the print media on polling day and one day prior to polling day unless the contents of political advertisements are pre-certified by them from the MCMC committee at the state/ district level, as the case may be.
ECI stated that political advertisements to be published in the print media in circulation will apply in the states/ UTs going to poll in the phases.
The restricted days for publication of political advertisement during phase-I are April 18 and 19, phase-II on April 25 and 26, phase-III on May 6 and 7, phase-IV on May 12 and 13, phase-V on May 19 and 20, phase-VI on May 24 and 25 and phase-VII on May 31 and June 1.
The ECI also informed that the applicants mentioned above should have to apply to MCMC not later than two days prior to the proposed date of publication of advertisement.
The Commission further directed that in order to facilitate the process of pre-certification of the newspaper advertisements and as instructed above, MCMC at state/district level be immediately alerted and activated in order to examine and pre-certify all such advertisements received from the political parties and candidates and others. It should also be ensured that the decision by MCMC is made expeditiously.
The above direction of the Commission has been brought to the notice of presidents of all political parties, contesting candidates and newspapers in the state and also to all media of mass communication for general information and strict compliance.
It further stated that the directions would come into force immediately.