Misuse of social media under ECI lens

Mangaluru: Social media will be under the lens of Election Commission of India (ECI) for the general elections to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha, said DC Sasikanth Senthil S.
With ECI bringing social media under the ambit of model code of conduct, Senthil, also the district returning officer, advised netizens and politicians to be cautious of (mis)using this platform to canvas support or send across their message to the voters in the run up and during polls.

Addressing media on Monday, Senthil said any campaign on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter will be added to the expenditure of the candidate. If such online campaign is done without candidate’s consent, action will be initiated against the person so campaigning, DC said. Social media is not free like in last elections. Media certification and monitoring committee at the district will monitor social media and bulk messages (sms/voice messages).

The district administration is geared to conduct polls and necessary arrangements including EVMs and VVPATs are in place in strong rooms. The first level checking of EVMs has been done with mock polls in front of representatives of political parties. With regard to election expenditure monitoring, 73 flying squads have been formed in the district, 62 static surveillance teams, and 25 video surveillance teams. They will monitor election expenditure of candidates

With final electoral rolls already published, DC said one could still get their names enrolled seven days before the last date of filing nominations. Voters must ensure their names are in voter’s list. Possessing multiple election photo identity cards (EPICs) is an offence. Most of the time such offences are not intentional, he said. ECI has launched the mobile app, ‘voter helpline’ or facility to call 1950 to check if one’s name is on the voter’s list, he added.

With the announcement of polls, model code of conduct is now in force and all political posters from public places are being removed. Posters on private lands will be allowed only if the owners have obtained prior permission from their local body to display the same. “I request owners to remove political posters if they have not obtained prior permission from authorities concerned failing which they, too, will be removed without any fear or favour,” he said.

Voter’s slip with one’s photo will not be enough to exercise the franchise this time. A voter should carry one among the 12 identity cards recognised by ECI as proof and EPIC is the best though it is not the only identity card mandatory to vote in the elections. In last elections, voters were allowed with voter’s slip with a photograph. This has been changed now. Voters should bring their identity cards while coming to polling stations

Model code of conduct bans use of loudspeakers from 10pm to 6am. Yakshagana organisers should inform election officials in advance about their programmes for such organisers could be connected to politics and may resort to indirect form of campaigning. Code of conduct will not disturb personal events anything not related to politics such as weddings. In case of banquet with guests exceeding 1,000, it is better to intimate authorities who will video document it.

Important dates

Issue of notification: March 19

Last date for filing nominations: March 26

Scrutiny of nominations: March 27

Last date for withdrawal of candidature: March 29

Date of Poll: April 18 (Phase 2)

Counting of votes: May 23