Panel nod must for political ads

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

The state Chief Electoral Office today set up media certification and monitoring committees that will scrutinise political advertisements on TV channels/cable networks and radio in the run-up to the elections.

Every political party will have to get its advertisements, including those posted on e-papers and social media, certified from these committees before releasing the same. Such panels are already in place for the print media.

A spokesperson for the Chief Electoral Officer said the Election Commission had widened the ambit of certification by including cinema halls, FM channels and audio-visual display of political advertisements in public places.

He said the use of bulk SMSes/voice messages for campaigning would also require certification.