Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, candidates and political parties cannot broadcast advertisements without the approval and certification of the MCMC. Strict action will be taken in accordance with the rules for any violations. Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said that Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) have been formed at both the district and state levels for the upcoming general assembly elections.
These committees will approve all election-related advertisements and will also keep a watch on paid news as well. All political advertisements to be broadcast on electronic media must be pre-certified by the respective MCMC. This applies to all electronic media, including TV channels, cable networks, radio, private FM channels, cinema halls, public places with audio-visual displays, phone voice messages, bulk SMS, and social media or internet websites, said the Chief Electoral Officer.
Media can play an active role in preventing fake news
Sh. Agarwal said that considering the misuse of social media and incidents of paid news, teams have been set up to monitor content posted on social media websites and the internet by candidates and political parties, following the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
He appealed to all political parties and candidates to ensure that neither they nor their supporters engage in hate speech or spread fake news, which could spoil the election atmosphere. Media can also play an active role in preventing the spread of fake news.
The Chief Electoral Officer stated that under Section 126(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, there will be a ban on displaying any election-related material via television or other broadcast mediums during the 48 hours leading up to the conclusion of polling in any constituency.
Exit polls will be banned during the specified period
Sh. Pankaj Agarwal further stated that under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, conducting exit polls and publishing their results through print or electronic media will be prohibited for a specific period. For this election, the ban will be in effect from 7:00 AM on September 18, 2024, until half an hour after the conclusion of polling (6:30 PM) on October 5, 2024, since the general elections in Haryana will be held simultaneously with those in Jammu and Kashmir, where the first phase of voting is on September 18, 2024.
He added that any violation of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, could result in imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both. Therefore, all media houses must ensure compliance with the Commission's instructions.