'Media Blackout After Campaign Ends': Maharashtra State Election Commission On Jan 15 Civic Polls

The Maharashtra State Election Commission has issued a clear and firm directive banning all poll-related advertisements across media platforms once the official campaign ends for the upcoming civic body elections. The announcement was made by Dinesh Waghmare, State Election Commissioner, during a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in Mumbai on Tuesday. Polling for 29 civic bodies is scheduled for January 15, 2026, and votes will be counted on the following day.

According to the commission, public campaigning for the civic body elections will officially conclude at 5.30 pm on January 13, 2026. From that moment onward, no election-related advertisements—whether in electronic, print, digital, or any other form of media—will

be permitted. The restriction applies uniformly to all political parties, candidates, and affiliated groups, in keeping with the provisions of election law that mandate a 48-hour silence period before polling.

Polling for the municipal corporation elections is scheduled to take place on January 15 between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm. As per statutory norms, the campaign blackout begins exactly 48 hours before the end of polling time. Commissioner Waghmare clarified that once the campaign period ends, there is no scope for seeking pre-certification or approval for advertisements in print media, as political advertising itself becomes impermissible.

The detailed framework governing media regulation and advertisement certification for elections has been laid out in the State Election Commission’s order dated October 9, 2025, titled “Media Monitoring and Advertisement Certification Order for Election Purposes, 2025”. The commission reiterated that these guidelines are binding and intended to ensure a level playing field, free from last-minute influence on voters.

During the same meeting, Commission Secretary Suresh Kakani made a detailed presentation on nomination-related rules. He explained that while a candidate’s name must appear in the voter list of the concerned municipal corporation, the proposer and seconder must be registered voters from the same ward where the candidate is contesting. This rule applies equally to party candidates and independents.

He further clarified that a candidate may file nomination papers from more than one ward but can contest only one seat. For a single seat, a maximum of four nomination papers may be submitted. Election officials and party representatives were urged to carefully follow these norms to avoid technical disqualifications.

The commission emphasised that strict enforcement of campaign silence and nomination rules is essential to uphold the integrity, fairness, and credibility of the civic elections.