Media should check facts before making election related information public: Ravi Kumar

Ranchi, 23 October (HS). Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar has said that before making any kind of election related information public, newspapers, TV channels, radio, social media or other media should check the facts completely.

He said that in case of any doubt, guidelines are available on the official website of the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer. Along with this, information related to compliance with the guidelines is also made available through social media. In view of the increasing importance of social media, the Election Commission has issued instructions vide its instruction dated 25 October 2013 regarding the use of social media during election campaign.

main point

-Social media has been defined in the category of 'electronic media'. Thus, all political advertisements made on social media come under the purview of pre-certification.

-During nomination, the candidate has to provide information about his authentic social media account in Form-26 at the time of nomination.

-The expenses incurred on political advertisements broadcast by candidates and political parties on social media, maintaining social media accounts, making publicity material and salaries of the personnel working for their social media are included in the election expenses of the candidate. Will be included.

-It is necessary for candidates and political parties to obtain pre-certification before releasing any political advertisement on any internet-based media-platform or media-website.

-The Model Code of Conduct and other related instructions issued by the Election Commission of India are also applicable to the social media platforms of the candidates or political parties and all the publicity materials used.

-To remove any ambiguity, the Commission has again clarified vide letter No. 491/SM/COMM/2013 dated 16 April 2014 that pre-certification is necessary on all political advertisements published on e-paper.

-The Commission has also clarified that any political content uploaded on blogs, self-account websites, social media platforms in the form of messages, comments, photos, videos will not fall in the category of political advertisements.