Chapra: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has imposed strict restrictions on political campaigning ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, prohibiting the broadcast or publication of any election-related content on television, radio, private FM channels, cinema halls, or social media platforms without prior approval.
Officials stated that no political party, candidate, or supporter can release promotional content on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or other digital media without obtaining permission from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) at the district level.
The Commission emphasised that any campaign material released without prior approval will be treated as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, and strict action will be taken against the responsible individuals or parties.
“Our goal is to ensure free and fair elections in Bihar. No political content can be aired or shared without verification and approval,” said an official from the election department in Saran.
The MCMC has been granted authority to review all audio, video, and graphic campaign materials, ensuring they do not contain hate speech, discriminatory remarks, or misleading information.
Under the new rules, candidates must submit all campaign videos, jingles, advertisements, speeches, and online posts for review. Only after approval can they be used in election campaigning.
Additionally, the ECI has instructed candidates to declare all their official social media accounts at the time of nomination. Any unverified or misleading digital content will be taken down immediately, and legal action will follow.
To strengthen election monitoring, district election officers across Bihar have been directed to enhance MCMC’s surveillance and coordination systems, ensuring that unauthorised or deceptive campaign materials are promptly identified and removed.
The move underscores the Commission’s growing vigilance over digital campaigning as social media continues to play a decisive role in modern elections.
