Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), Raipur District, has found that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates Brijmohan Agrawal, Devji Bhai Patel and Congress candidate Vikas Upadhayay have violated election model code of conduct on social media by not obtaining prior certification before the release of posts.
The respective Returning Officers would be issuing show cause notice to the candidates seeking their reply. The MCMC headed by Raipur District Electoral Officer (CEO) and Collector Dr Basavaraju S found that BJP candidate Brijmohan Agrawal on his twitter account and Devji Bhai Patel on his facebook account had been using 'government scheme mono' for publicity which has the election symbol of party. Similarly, Devji Bhai Patel in name of Chairman, Chhattisgarh Text Book Corporation’s facebook account was also being used allegedly for political campaign. The Committee found it as the violation of election model code of conduct. The Committee also detected that Congress candidate Vikas Upadhayay in his sponsored facebook page without prior permission and certification has been using it for alleged political campaign. It has recommended to the respective Returning Officers to issue notice to all these candidates.As per the direction of Election Commission of India (ECI), the social media posted materials would fall under the election model code of conduct. Additional to it, all the advertisements being released in social media have to be pre-certified through MCMC at the district level. Bulk SMS and voice message, television, cinema, radio, LED along with e-papers before release of any advertisement has to be certified by the MCMC.
Raipur City (West) Returning Officer Sandeep Agrawal has issued notice to BJP candidate Rajesh Munat seeking clarification for distributing materials for luring the electors. A complaint was received on the issue. Munat has been asked to submit the reply at earliest.