Prathap stops Facebook campaign after Committee notice

Television and radio ads are also being monitored

A Facebook page, ‘Prathap Simha for MP’ has been deleted, as the page was used to post advertisements without the approval from Media Certification and Monitoring Committee of the district. 

According to A R Prakash, Member Secretary of the Committee, it is not prohibited to upload pictures or news clippings about a candidate online. “But, if posts are made on a Facebook page, which are similar to advertisements, then a prior certification from the Committee is required,” he said. Election Commission has issued instructions for such certification, as social and electronic media being extensively used to promote candidates and political parties ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

The Committee issued a notice to the candidate, after such uploads were made to the Facebook page. 

Following the notice, the page was shut down. The Committee however, did not find any objections in two other Facebook pages of the MP candidate, as the posts uploaded were just photographs. The page which was deleted, had attracted 18,000 likes from various Facebook users of the State.

TV Ads

With candidates deciding to advertise on local cable television channels in the region, the Committee has certified a total of seven television advertisements till Wednesday.Four of the advertisements will be of the Congress party and three advertisements are by the BJP.

The advertisements will be screened in five local television channels of the region. “Some advertisements had children in them. We had to ask the advertisers to censor the bit, as children are not allowed to be used for election campaigning. Apart from that copyright violations will also be edited out before certification for screening the ads is issued,” Prakash said.

The Committee has also certified two radio advertisements that are being aired in favour of the Congress candidate on two radio stations.

The Committee is also recording content screened in five local television channels. The recording was started two days after nominations were filed and will continue till the day of elections, he said.