Hyderabad: The office of the chief electoral officer, Telangana state, has told contesting candidates to include all expenditure on campaigning, including on advertisements on social media, in their expenditure account at the time of filing nominations.
Since social media is also electronic media, all political advertisements that appear on social media sites will require pre-certification from the media certification and monitoring committee, said the CEO.
“Candidates and political parties shall include all expenditures on campaigning, including expenditure on advertisements on social media in their election expenditure account. This among other things shall include payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and also campaign related operational expenditure on making creative developments of content, and salaries and wages paid to the team of workers employed to maintain their social media accounts,” said Dr Kumar.
The office of the CEO has included social media experts as part of their MCMC in all districts and at state level. The election commission has decided that bulk SMS/voice messenger on phone relating to election campaigning will also need pre-certification, as in the case of TV channels, cable network, radio, including private FM channels, and any visual public display.
As usual, EC observers are keeping a close watch on the movement of cash and liquor meant as inducement for voters. Air Ambulance and helicopters are being arranged in consultation with the CEO at strategic locations on polling days.
Since the Model Code of Conduct was imposed, the police has registered 198 FIRs against persons /political workers for violence or MCC violation. Flying Squads (405) and static surveillance teams (395 ) are functioning to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
