JALANDHAR
A 2009 batch IRS officer Madhav Deshmukh who has been appointed as Expenditure Observer by the Election Commission of India for 04-Jalandhar Lok Sabha Constituency (S.C.) today visited the Media Certification and Monitoring Cell (MCMC) here at the district administrative Complex wherein he directed the officers and members to keep a close eye over social media, paid news and political advertisements.
The Expenditure Monitor along with Additional Commissioner Municipal Corporation-cum-Nodal Officer District Expenditure Monitoring Cell Amarjit Singh the MCMC established at toom 14 A, DAC, and took stock of activities of the cell.
While interacting with the officials, the observer collected information about pre-certifications issued to political parties/candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections besides various approvals related to campaigning, advertising, paid news, and activities on social media, electronic media, and print media.
He asked the officials and employees of the cell to keep a close eye on newspapers, radio, TV, and social media adding that if any advertisement/paid news of a candidate is found then immediate action should be taken to include it in his election expenses.
He further informed that the MCMC has been authorized to provide approval concerning advertisements in electronic media, including e-paper and social media. The parties and candidates must take approval for their content from the cell. The MCMC will issue approval after obtaining requisite information about expenditure incurred on creating and placing advertisements.
District Public Relations Officer-cum-Member Secretary MCMC Subeg Singh provided detailed information about MCMC to the expenditure observer and said that the committee was formed under the leadership of District Election Officer Cum Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal after enforcement of Model Code of Conduct to keep a close tab over the advertisements/paid news being done through print, electronic and social media round the clock.
He further mentioned that as many as 40 employees have been deployed for this task, who are performing their duties in three shifts. He said that MCMC has so far issued a total of 13 content approvals.