BBMP media panel to check 'illegal' poll ads

Ahead of the Assembly elections, the BBMP has formed a media control and monitoring committee in their head office to scrutinise all local and national news channels, newspapers, radio and the social media.

The officials will track the content in the media to check whether political parties have put out advertisements without taking permission of the Election Commission. If any candidate is found to have put out an advertisement in violation of the model code of conduct, it will be reported to the poll panel for further action.

The over 50-member committee will work round the clock, and in three shifts.

Speaking to DH, district election officer and BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said, "Advertisements from political parties or candidates will have to be first certified by the media control and monitoring committee before it is published in the media."

The committee will start functioning once the candidates file the nominations.

"The committee, which will be headed by me and officials from the public information department, state election commission and BBMP, will basically scrutinise those advertisements that violate the model code of conduct. The advertisements should not make appeals through cash or religious sentiments."