EC's monitoring panel to keep check on election material, ads

Darjeeling: Election-related advertisements and campaign posts on social media will be under strict scrutiny by the Election Commission during the forthcoming general elections this time.

"A monitoring and certification committee has been constituted at the district level as per the direction of the Election Commission. Any sort of advertisement or campaign advertisements or materials will not be allowed to be printed or broadcast before prior certification from the monitoring and certification committee," stated Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate and District Election Officer (DEO.)

However, there is a time-frame for this. Any candidate or party will have to submit material being published or broadcast three days before. For individuals it will be seven days.

The advertisements or campaign materials for print will be checked and certified within 48 hours. For electronic, it will be on the same day.

"Nothing will be allowed to be published or broadcast without prior clearance or certification. This is to ensure that the model code of conduct is not violated," added the DEO.

Candidates along with the parties fielding their candidates will have to file separate affidavits stating if they have any criminal cases (whether ongoing or convicted) in a prescribed format.

The affidavits will be filed thrice (separately by the candidate and the party from the last date of withdrawal of nomination to 48 hours before the closing of polls).

A new app has also been launched by the Election Commission. Known as the Citizen's Vigil App it will be used to keep a strict check. "If any person is found violating the norms, then citizens have to take a video clip and upload it through the app. The complaint will come to the district centre from where a team will scrutinise the matter. The case will be disposed of within an hour. Cases like distribution of liquor, cash to voters can be reported through the app.