Was NaMo TV content certified: EC to Delhi CEO

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has written to the Delhi chief electoral officer asking whether the content aired on NaMo TV, which as per the I&B ministry is an “advertorial” platform available via DTH service, was pre-certified by the media certification and monitoring committee, as is mandatory for all political advertisements before they are aired.

Sources in the commission told TOI that the EC has asked the Delhi CEO if the content on NaMo TV was certified from the time it started airing on DTH platforms. “If not certified, what was the reason?” the EC asked the CEO.

The EC is trying to ascertain if the requirement of having all political advertisements pre-certified by the MCMC was met by the “advertisement” platform, as the I&B ministry has described NaMo TV in its reply to the EC on April 5.

Incidentally, BJP will have to account for all expenditure on NaMo TV in its election expenditure statement to be filed with the EC.

As per rules, the Delhi-based MCMC, headed by the Delhi CEO, must pre-certify all political advertisements to be issued by a registered political party with its headquarters in Delhi. The said party must apply for certification not later than three days prior to the date of the proposed commencement of the telecast of the “advertisement”.

“Once we receive the reply from the Delhi CEO, we will decide on further action,” an EC officer said.

As per the EC’s standing order, MCMC at district and state levels are responsible for pre-certification of advertisements of a political nature. Such applications for pre-certification must be accompanied with the proposed advertisement in the electronic form and state the cost of the production of the advertisement. It should also have a statement whether the advertisement inserted is for the benefit of the prospects of the election of a candidate(s)/parties.