Rajasthan Elections: Congress Ad in Hindi Newspaper Draws ECI Flak & Notice

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued a notice to Rajasthan Congress President regarding an advertisement in a Hindi newspaper that “fails to adhere to the standards expected from a national party” as it was “designed to look like a news item with the view to disorient the electors”.

The ECI, in the notice, said that the advertisement was not only misleading but also seems aimed at causing a confusion in the minds of the voters regarding the outcome of the election, thereby attempting to disturb the level playing field. The notice was based on a complaint filed by the BJP’s state unit.

The poll body has sought an explanation from the state unit president by 3pm on Thursday, while restraining the party from utilising the format, content, language and placement of advertisement to ensure a level-playing field for all stakeholders.

“In the present series of political advertisements in Rajasthan by the INC (Congress), it is noticeable that the design and content of the impugned Ads are missing the Election Symbol… The Commission expects all national political parties to abide by their own assessment and concerns in this case being w.r.t. the format, content, location, and language of the political advertisement without an evident visual or content mark to identify them as such, and, so as not to confuse the electors’ mind as if they are independent news items,” the notice reads.

The political advertisements by political parties and other stakeholders “should not be masqueraded as news”. “This has been a documented common concern with a previous record of complaints and counter complaints,” it added.

THE COMPLAINT

The advertisement was published in Dainik Bhaskar in Rajasthan on November 20.

In the complaint, the BJP alleged that the advertisement was in violation of Model Code of Conduct provisions.

“The INC has published advertisements camouflaged as political predictions and/or as news headlines in front pages of several newspapers… the said advertisements have been presented in such a manner on the front page of such newspapers so as to prejudice the minds of the voters of Rajasthan. More so, the advertisements have been presented in a manner so as to look like newspaper headlines in an attempt to give credibility to a pure political campaign in the guise of news. It has been further stated that it is a violation of ECI instructions which prohibit any direct or indirect attempt at undue influence on electors minds,” the notice added, citing BJP’s complaint.

It is important to note that the placement, design and the content of advertisement in the print media, prior to 48 hours of the date of poll, do not require MCMC clearance and, thus, “is an action entirely controlled by the respective political parties with financial implications”.

Rajasthan will go to polls on November 25, while counting of votes will be done on December 3.