EC bans campaign through electronic media

State Election Office here said on Saturday that the decision was taken after several organisatins sought permission to carry out poll campaign through electronic media.

The election commission has banned campaigning through advertisements in electronic media by any candidate, political party or any organisation during the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

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State Election Office here said on Saturday that the decision was taken after several organisatins sought permission to carry out poll campaign through electronic media.

It said the ban was imposed taking into consideration the Commission's stand during 1998 elections that broadcasting and advertisements in electronic media by candidates or political parties was improper and inappropriate.

The commission also said that all the concerned parties had accepted the decision and electronic media also followed the restrictions imposed during 1998 polls.

It pointed out that only big political parties can afford to undertake expensive campaign through electronic media which could not only affect the election process but also the very tenets of democracy.

In view of such a situation, arrangements have been made for broadcasting programmes of political parties on fixed schedule through Doordarshan and All India Radio which have wide reach in different parts of the country.

All district officials and police authorities in the state have been informed about the ban, it added.