Digitial media campaign to be part of poll cost

Amaravati: The Election Commission of India (ECI) takes the digital media or new media into their consideration to calculate the expenditure of the candidates. 

As the usage of social media like WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and others apart from websites, blogs increased massively, the Election Commission is also focussing on it. The ECI has established social media expert committees at District and State-level to keenly monitor these.

All the expenditure incurred on these social or digital media for campaigning of contesting candidates will be calculated as their election expenditure, Chief Electoral Officer Gopalakrishna Dwivedi informed The Hans India.

The Election Commission has explained that political leaders have been extensively using the social media to reach the voters, to attack their rivals and also to spread negative campaign against the leaders of rival parties.

Everything will be monitored, technical experts will calculate the expenditure and professionals will review all trending posts and other digital content and will take necessary action.

To promote or post the digital content, the candidates must take approval from the Election Commission, before they post on the websites or others. The candidates have to submit a declaration form to the ECI about their official websites and social media accounts.

If they violate the rules, then it will be considered as violation of the Election Code, the CEO informed. The expenditure incurred on the social media will be calculated based on the rate cards being provided by the Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and others.

The Election Commission has explained that they have engaged experts in districts and State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committees. They will calculate the expenditure and include in the candidates expenditure list.

If a particular candidate crosses the election expenditure of Rs 28 lakh, then he will be considered as disqualified. Even if he wins the election, then also he will be considered as not qualified. If someone exceeds the election expenditure and loses the election, then he will not be allowed to contest in the next elections.