What the Election Commission’s guidelines on paid news say

The Election Commission uses the definition of paid news given by the Press Council of India: any news or analysis appearing in any media, print or electronic, for a price in cash or kind. During elections such material works like an advertisement but looks like news to the reader.

Who monitors it

Each district has a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) headed by the district election officer, and the state has one under the chief electoral officer. These committees track suspected paid news in newspapers, on TV, radio and social media.

Political advertisements on TV, cable, radio, in cinema halls and on social media need pre-certification from the MCMC. Newspaper political ads on polling day and the day before also need pre-certification.

What happens when a case is found

If the MCMC treats material as paid news, the candidate gets a notice, can reply and can appeal at the state level. Once confirmed, the estimated cost is added to the candidate’s election expenses. The case may also be referred to the Press Council or the relevant regulator.

Failure to lodge a correct account of expenses can lead to disqualification for three years under Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

An Uttar Pradesh example

The first disqualification linked to paid news expenditure came from Uttar Pradesh. In October 2011 the Commission disqualified Umlesh Yadav, then MLA from Bisauli, for three years under Section 10A for failing to account correctly for election expenses. The case related to reports published during the 2007 assembly election.

Key points

• The Election Commission uses the definition of paid news given by the Press Council of India: any news or analysis appearing in any media,
• Each district has a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) headed by the district election officer, and the state has one
• If the MCMC treats material as paid news, the candidate gets a notice, can reply and can appeal at the state level.
• The first disqualification linked to paid news expenditure came from Uttar Pradesh.

The 2024 Lok Sabha context

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats were won as follows: Samajwadi Party 37, BJP 33, Congress 6, RLD 2, Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) 1 and Apna Dal (S) 1. Lok Sabha and assembly elections turn on different issues and alliances, so the two results should not be added together to reach a conclusion.

The structure of the House

The Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly has 403 seats. Of these, 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 for Scheduled Tribes. The majority mark is 202. The state sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha and 31 to the Rajya Sabha. The legislative council is a separate House whose members come through different electorates and nomination.

Official 2022 figures for context

For context, the 2022 assembly election had 15,12,46,168 electors and 9,21,62,897 votes polled, with statewide turnout of 60.94 percent. The BJP won 255 seats on 41.29 percent and the Samajwadi Party 111 seats on 32.06 percent. Apna Dal (S) won 12, the RLD 8, the SBSP and NISHAD Party 6 each, Congress and the Jansatta Dal Loktantrik 2 each, and the BSP 1.

Also read:

• Budaun district assembly results 2022
• Mathura district assembly results 2022
• Ghazipur district assembly results 2022

Source: Election Commission of India. Figures are from official statistical reports.

और पढ़ें: आपके लिए चुनी गई ख़बरें → (प्रायोजित)