No political campaigns without pre-certification; EC announces strict rule

The Election Commission of India has directed all political parties and candidates to obtain mandatory pre-certification for political advertisements across electronic and digital platforms, as part of stricter enforcement measures ahead of ongoing assembly elections. The move aims to regulate campaign content and curb misinformation during the election period.

Under the new directive, all political advertisements intended for television, radio, digital displays, e-papers, bulk messaging, and social media platforms must be approved in advance by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) before publication. Parties and candidates have been instructed not to release any such content on internet-based platforms without prior clearance from the designated committees at district or state levels.

In addition, candidates are now required to disclose details of their authentic social media accounts in their nomination affidavits, enhancing transparency in digital campaigning. The Commission has also reiterated that political parties must submit a comprehensive account of their campaign expenditure, including spending on internet advertising, content creation, and maintenance of social media platforms, within 75 days after the elections.

The directive also emphasises strict monitoring of paid news and misinformation, with MCMCs tasked to identify and act against violations. To ensure effective implementation, officials, law enforcement agencies, and representatives of social media platforms have been sensitised through coordinated meetings, focusing on timely action against fake news, disinformation, and election-related violations.