An Election Commission proposal to ban political advertisements in newspapers on election day will not be implemented in the coming Lok Sabha polls as it is pending with the Ministry of Law and Law Ministry.
Sources said that the move will require changes in the Representation of the People Act and it is now up to the next Lok Sabha to take a call.
“The Law Ministry did not consider moving the Cabinet to propose amendments in the statutes as the Budget session was too brief and it required political consensus. Now the 17th Lok Sabha will take a call on the proposal,” sources explained.
A 10-member committee of the EC suggested that Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter or any other social media platforms should not be allowed to circulate any election campaign related material for 48 hours till polling is over during elections in a constituency.
“The period of 48 hours before closing time of polling in India is sacrosanct,” the Committee said.