Ahead of the elections, the candidates can not interact with media till the end of polling on April 9, according to the Kerala Election Commissioner.
“If parties have doubts regarding the interaction with the media, they can seek clarification in writing. We can give the guidelines to them in writing. Not just the instructions from the ECI but also the interpretations of these instructions made in various court judgements,” Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, Rathan U Kelkar, said.
He pointed out that with regard to whether candidates can interact with media after taking permission with the ECI, “no permission is required. It is just that these things are prohibited”.
This comes as Kerala is set to go into polls on April 9 and the media usually seeks
bytes from candidates and leaders, particularly on the day of the polls.
Onmanorama quoted CEO Kelkar saying that the ban is not limited to processions and meetings.
“All election-related messages conveyed through the media is restricted,” he said while citing Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
According to the Act, “No person shall — (a) convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or (b) display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus; or (c) propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the time fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area.”
“The instruction that we have received is that press conferences will be covered under the ‘a’ and ‘b’ clauses,” Kelkar added.
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