Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra, who is also the District Electoral Officer, has announced that with the Model Code of Conduct in effect for the May 10 Assembly polls, candidates and political parties are required to obtain prior permission (pre-certification) before releasing campaign advertisements on electronic and social media.

The move has come after the Supreme Court made it mandatory for political parties to take prior approval from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) formed at the District and State levels as per Article 142 of the Constitution.

During a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee meeting at his office yesterday, Dr. Rajendra emphasised that obtaining pre-certification from the competent authority is mandatory for releasing campaign advertisements in print media or electronic media. The rules are also applicable on the day before or on the day of polling.

Political parties and election candidates will require prior approval from the Election Commission for circulating any form of political advertisements on television, radio, social media or any other form of electronic media, he said.

He also noted that certification by the MCMC is required even if the newspaper is online, and emphasised that paid news in any form is strictly prohibited in all forms of media.

Post-elections, no approval for political advertisements is sought. Hence any sort of advertisement having a political message is to be approved by the MCMC before broadcasting.

In a warning against the publication of paid news, Dr. Rajendra stated that appropriate action would be taken against those who violate these norms under Section 171 of the Representation of People Act. He also noted that the cost of advertisements issued in support of candidates with their approval will be added to the candidates’ poll expenditures.