• Source:JND

Bihar Assembly Elections: As the fever of the election season gripped Bihar, the politicians resorted to the top gear of their poll campaigns. The contenders are using all means to woo voters. The role of the Election Commission became crucial in the wake of malpractices to influence the polls. Ahead of phase one of the assembly polls on November 6, the poll body took several steps to ensure free and fair elections.

Here Are The Major Steps Taken By The EC:

- The EC banned bulk SMSes and audio messages during the 48-hour 'silence period' which starts before the conclusion of voting in the Bihar Assembly elections.

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- The poll authority said, political advertisements on any election matter in TV, cable networks, radio, cinema halls, use of bulk SMS/voice messages, audio visual displays in any polling area during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area is prohibited.

- Every registered and national and state political party and every contesting candidate to apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic media, including social media before publication.

- MCMCs have been constituted at the district and state levels for pre-certification of political advertisements as per the prescribed guidelines.

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- No political advertisements are to be released to any internet-based media/websites, including social media websites, by political parties or candidates without pre-certification from the respective MCMC, it cautioned.

- The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee will also keep a strict vigil on suspected cases of paid news in the media and take suitable action.

- Given the penetration of social media in the electoral landscape, candidates have also been instructed to share the details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of filing their nomination.

- Political parties should also submit a statement of expenditure incurred on campaigning through the internet, including social media websites, to the ECI within 75 days of the completion of the assembly elections.

- Such expenditure, among other things, shall include payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and also campaign-related expenditure on development of content and operational expenditure incurred to maintain their social media accounts," the election watchdog noted.

(With PTI inputs)