No print ads without MCMC clearance on April 8-9: Election Commission

Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission has directed all political parties and candidates contesting the Kerala Assembly polls on April 9 not to publish any advertisements in print media on polling day and its eve without obtaining prior certification from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

The directive, issued late Friday night by Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar, warned that misleading, inflammatory, or offending advertisements during the final stages of elections could vitiate the entire electoral process. “At such a critical juncture, affected parties and candidates often lack the opportunity to provide necessary rebuttals,” the order stated.

Exercising powers under Article 324 of the Constitution, the EC stated that no political party, candidate, organisation, or individual shall publish any print media advertisement on April 8 and 9 unless the content has been pre-certified by the MCMC at the state or district level, as applicable.

The order further specifies that proposed advertisements must be submitted to the state or district MCMC at least two days prior to the intended date of publication. Article 324 vests the Election Commission with the power of superintendence, direction, and control over elections.

With PTI inputs