The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern caution to newspaper editors regarding the publication of advertisements masquerading as news items and any advertisements predicting the victory of a particular party. In its advisory, the ECI emphasised the importance of avoiding speculative content related to election outcomes.
According to the ECI, editors have been reminded of the Press Council's norms, which hold them responsible for all matters, including advertisements published in newspapers. The commission stressed that advertisements in print media on both pre-poll and poll days require pre-certification from the concerned media certification and monitoring committee.
The ECI stated that it has been closely monitoring the political discourse during the campaigning by various political parties. Expressing concerns about the declining levels of campaign discourse, the ECI has issued several advisories to address this issue. The latest advisory was issued on March 1, 2024, highlighting the importance of maintaining decorum in political communication.
In the ongoing General Elections 2024, the ECI has taken strict action against derogatory remarks made by political leaders, censuring two leaders for their comments against the dignity of women. Furthermore, the ECI has urged party chiefs to sensitise their functionaries to exercise caution while communicating in the public domain and refrain from making derogatory comments or violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines.
The conduct of exit polls and the dissemination of their results are strictly prohibited from the beginning of polling hours on the first day of the poll until half an hour after the poll closes in all states and union territories. For the ongoing general elections, this specified period is from 7 am on April 19, 2024, until 6:30 pm on June 1, 2024.
The ECI's advisory serves as a reminder to media outlets to uphold journalistic integrity and ethical standards, particularly during the crucial period of elections. It underscores the importance of impartiality and accuracy in reporting, emphasising the need to avoid any form of content that may influence the electoral process.
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