The Election Commission (EC) has served showcause notices to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and a Punjab-based news channel for telecasting advertisements on the SAD-led government’s achievements without obtaining the mandatory permission.
In their report to the state chief electoral officer, poll officials deployed to monitor television content, said on Sunday, the channel had telecast such an advertisement and showed Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
In a separate advertisement, Sukhbir’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur was shown advocating a social campaign against female foeticide in the state.
The EC has also taken notice of a news story about the Sunam assembly segment, which showed development work carried out by PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa.
Raj Kumar Tangri, assistant chief electoral officer, Punjab, said the advertisements were telecast without obtaining mandatory permission from the EC.
“We are serving notices on the SAD president for violating the code of conduct,” Tangri said. “Also, the party has been asked to submit its reply in 12 hours on why action should not be initiated.”
A separate notice was being served on the channel management, which telecast the advertisements without verifying whether the SAD had obtained the EC’s permission, he said.
{{/usCountry}}A separate notice was being served on the channel management, which telecast the advertisements without verifying whether the SAD had obtained the EC’s permission, he said.
{{/usCountry}}“The channel needs to explain its lack of adherence to EC instructions. The channel has been asked to immediately stop such broadcasts,” Tangri said.