EQUAL AD SPACE FOR ALL PARTIES

GHMC commissioner and Hyderabad district election officer M Dana Kishore on Friday held a review meeting with advertisement agencies and instructed them to provide equitable space for political parties to advertise during the ongoing elections.

He made clear that even Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited should provide equal space in its pillars.

Mr Kishore, following instructions from the State Election Commission, has issued orders prohibiting the use of government or public sector undertaking premises for display of political advertisements as long as the model code of conduct is in force.

He asked officials not to allow display even if some commercial spaces were available on those premises. “The commercial spaces of the government/PSUs can’t be used for political advertisements during the election period. If there is no specific provision in the PSU bylaws to whom they let out the space for ads, to prohibit the display of political ads, the PSUs may add a para in their agreements with ad agencies”, he said.

Mr Kishore said every political party should be given a fair chance to advertise about its party or candidate during the poll season and asked the advertisement agencies to provide equitable space to all. He said that allocation of space at all prime locations should be uniform, which includes size and height of the hoardings.