Expense of publicity on social media will be added to the account of the concerned candidate and party
Stringent action to be taken against Model Code of Conduct violations on Social Media
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, April 18-
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal said that the administration of all the districts and Chief Electoral Office of Haryana is fully committed to conducting the Lok Sabha general elections in the state in a transparent and fair manner. In accordance with directives from the Election Commission of India, vigilant monitoring of social media activities is underway by multiple teams, including the Cyber Cell, to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. In addition, the cost of advertisements broadcast through social media will also be added to the account of the concerned candidate or party.
He said that during the enforcement of the code of conduct, no candidate or party can directly or indirectly disseminate misleading election material. Violations of the Model Code of Conduct will not be tolerated, and appropriate action will be taken against anyone found contravening the rules.
Anurag Agarwal said that the model code of conduct will remain in effect until the elections conclude, stressing that no individual is permitted to breach this code. To ensure adherence to the code, several teams have been established, rigorously monitoring all activities. These teams maintain a vigilant watch over various social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp groups. He said that during elections, campaigning extends to social media platforms, akin to newspapers, television, and radio, incurring expenses. Such expenditures are accounted for and added to the respective candidate or party. In accordance with the Election Commission's directives, district-based teams will actively monitor social media during this election cycle. Any detected advertisements will be promptly reported, detailing the associated expenses to the expenditure monitoring team. Based on these reports, the cost of the advertisement will be added to the relevant candidate or party's account.
He stressed the significance of social media monitoring during elections, noting that candidates and parties often conduct campaigns on platforms such as YouTube. If the monitoring team identifies videos on such platforms that unilaterally claim or endorse the victory of any candidate or political party, or advocate for a specific caste or religion, or present misleading material violating the Model Code of Conduct, appropriate action will be taken against the respective YouTube channel operator under the IT Act.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that the Model Code of Conduct applies uniformly to all forms of media, including newspapers, television, radio, and social media. In accordance with the Commission's instructions, consistency in electoral coverage across all media platforms is essential. News disseminated via media channels should remain impartial, refraining from exhibiting bias towards any particular side, religion, caste, or community. It is imperative to abstain from publishing or broadcasting news that favours or opposes any specific religion, caste, or community.
He said that before publishing any advertisement on newspaper or channel, it is necessary to take permission through MCMC Committee. Similarly, approval from the administration is mandated for placing advertisements or promotional material on social media. In compliance with the Election Commission's directives, the expenditure incurred on advertisements in any form is attributed to the respective candidate or party's account. Along with this, no person is allowed to spread misleading propaganda through social media and violate the model code of conduct.
Media plays an important role in conducting elections in a fair and peaceful manner
The media stands as the fourth pillar of democracy, playing a crucial role in facilitating fair and peaceful elections. Beyond just reporting news, the media holds the responsibility of fostering a harmonious societal environment. Media has contributed positively to the society. To ensure transparent Lok Sabha elections, there is an earnest appeal to all persons associated with newspapers, news channels, and other social media platforms to refrain from publishing any misleading promotional material that may contravene the Model Code of Conduct. Moreover, it is essential to obtain administrative permission before publishing any advertisement. Advertisement expenses will be added to the election expenses of the candidate.