The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directives for providing free broadcasting/air time for national and recognised regional political parties for publicity in Doordarshan and Akashwani (All India Radio).
As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951 amended provisions, all the recognised political parties are provided equal time for Central Government controlled electronic media mainly Doordarshan and Akashwani.
Keeping this in view in Chhattisgarh, free air time would be provided to recognised political parties in Raipur based broadcasting centres. It would be also relayed through the relay centres of Doordarshan and Akashwani.
All the national and Chhattisgarh based recognised political parties would be given free air time at primary round of 45 minutes in both Doordarshan and Akashwani. Based on the performance of last assembly election, political parties would be given additional time. It would not be more than 15 minutes at one time. The publicity timing would be made available from the last day of filing of nomination papers in first phase of election to two days before the last phase of polling.
(PBC) with advice of ECI would fix the date and time and based on the timing of Doordarshan and Akashwani technical limits and available broadcasting time.
The political parties would have to submit the recording and transcript before the transmission so that all the standards can be maintained. The political parties can do the recording at their expense in any private organisation but will have to maintain the quality of Prasar Bharati or Doordarshan/AIR specified specifications. As an alternative, they can also record it with Doordarshan and Akashwani after filing an application at Raipur based studio.
Minimum two panel discussions and debate would be organised by Doordarshan and Akashwani in which political parties will have to send their representatives. ECI and Prasar Bharati would nominate the coordinators for the programmes.
Directives have been issued by ECI to all the political parties where they must not comment on foreign countries, religion or verbally attack any community, defame, raise objectionable issues which incites violence, invites contempt of court, disturbs unity and integrity of the country, among others including making personal criticism.
As per allocated time, TMC had been provided air time of 45 minutes, BSP (61) minutes, BJP (194 minutes), CPI (47 minutes), CPI(M) 45 minutes, Indian National Congress (191 minutes) and NCP (46 minutes).