C'garh CEO clarifies on Social media rules

Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo on Friday said that all the election campaign related laws, provisions and rules which apply to other forms of media used in election campaign will also be effective to social media as well.

Social media is a new format therefore it is being clarified, Sahoo said briefing reporters on Friday.

Sahoo pointed out candidates have to provide details of their social media account and it has to be submitted with the affidavit in form-26.

For internet based media— social media along with website— any political party or candidate cannot give advertisement without pre-certification through Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

A political party or candidate has to keep a separate account of its expenses in the election-expenses account for the advertisements released through social media and the internet.

With other accounts, Internet Company and website advertisements given or payments made and other expenses including payment given for designing the advertisement, employees related expenses and political parties appointed social media team employees' allowances, for operating its social media account, and others are included in the expenses.

On social media and internet also, Sahoo said that the election model code of conduct is effective related to the political parties and its candidates during the election period.

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and other directives issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) would also be in effect to all materials put on website of candidate and political parties along with materials put on the internet.

On a query, Sahoo said that the blogs which have hate, communal related content or defamation and character assassination would call for a stern action.

The Chhattisgarh CEO said that additional to candidate or political party, if any other person uploaded related material, that is concerning the publicity of candidate or political parties or linked to it, the ECI is holding discussion on different aspects with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for relevant practical mode to deal with such activities.

The order for pre-certification of social media by ECI was issued on August 27, 2012 where the district and state level MCMC has been handed over the pre-certification responsibility.

Even though social media is also an electronic media mode, so commission order number 509/75/2004/JS-1/4572, dated 15/04/2004 has brought the social media including website under the limits of pre-certification.