Ahead of poll day, ECI issues directive on political advertisements

Ahead of the coming Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) connected Monday (April 6, 2026) said that nary governmental party, candidate, organisation, oregon idiosyncratic should people immoderate governmental advertisement successful newspapers connected the time of polling oregon a time anterior to voting unless the contented has been pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) astatine the State oregon territory level.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry volition spell to the polls successful April, portion bye-elections volition beryllium held successful six States.

Individuals oregon contesting candidates tin use for certification of advertisements with District MCMC. All registered governmental parties headquartered successful a State oregon a Union Territory tin use for certification of specified advertisements with the State-level MCMC, the canvass assemblage said successful a statement.

Applicants seeking pre-certification for governmental advertisements successful people media indispensable use to the MCMC nary aboriginal than 2 days anterior to the projected day of work of the advertisement. To facilitate timely pre-certification, the MCMCs astatine the State and territory levels person been activated to analyse and pre-certify specified advertisements, and guarantee that decisions are made expeditiously. The MCMCs shall besides support a strict vigil connected suspected cases of paid quality successful the media and instrumentality suitable action, the Election Commission of India said.