Explain cost on social media publicity: Election Commission of India

Hyderabad: Giving a jolt to the political parties which are vying with one another to show their upper hand in the campaign through social media, the Election Commission of India has brought new guidelines in the use of social media by the political parties in the poll-bound states, including Telangana. The EC said that it is mandatory that the spending on campaigning through internet, including social media websites should be included in the expenditure.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar on Friday said that the contestants should inform the commission in the affidavits the expenditure on campaign through social media along with the details of the expenditure on other media advertisement under Section 77(1) of the People’s Representation Act.

The content on internet, including social media shall be subject to the provisions of model code of conduct. No political advertisements are released to any internet-based media and websites, including social media websites by political parties and candidates without pre- certification from competent authority as was in the case of other advertisements. The parties and candidates should also inform the commission in the affidavits in Form -26 their social media accounts