EC says list spend on social media

The Election Commission of India has asked candidates to disclose how much they had spent for their election campaign on social media websites.

The Election Commission cited the Section 77(1) of RP Act (Iv): The content on internet including social media shall be subjected to the provisions of model code of conduct and related instructions of the commission issued from time to time.”

The Election Commission issued a set of directions relating to use of social media in the context of elections.

It said the social media accounts of the candidates should be informed in the affidavits in Form-26 to the Commission No political advertisement is to be released to any internetbased media/website , including social media websites, by political parties or candidates without pre-certification from the competent authorities as was in the case of other advertisements, the election commission said.

Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar issued a statement that said, “These instructions are reiterated to sensitise all political parties, contestants and others who are using / intending to use social media to communicate to electors. Any violation will be viewed seriously and action will be initiated on the responsible persons who create/share/forward as per the extant provisions of law.”