Paid news will also be monitored during ensuing Vidhan Sabha by-elections in Vijayraghavgarh and Bahoriband constituencies in Katni district and Agar Vidhan Sabha constituency in Agar-Malwa district. Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has directed collectors of both districts in this regard.
District election officers of Katni and Agar-Malwa have been directed to minutely study directives and guidelines of Election Commission regarding monitoring of election expenses, MCMC and paid news.District level paid news monitoring committees have been constituted and nodal officers for monitoring election expenses appointed in both districts as per commission’s directives. District-level MCMCs in both districts have started process to identify suspected paid news cases with announcement of by-elections.
According to CEO Office, if any MCMC is not monitoring all cables, channels, newspapers etc, it will be brought to the commission’s notice. District election officers have also been asked to provide 3-4 TV sets with connections of all national and local channels, recorder and separate cameras to MCMC so that all election-related advertisements can be recorded.
Directives have been given to deploy officers-employees for cooperating in MCMC meetings in both districts. It has been instructed to identify suspected paid news and inform district election officer, returning officer and observers appointed by the commission. Directives have been given for 24X7 recording of electronic media/news channels, identify cases of suspected paid news and violation of model code of conduct etc and make available their video clippings.