Raipur, 21 October 2023
Election Commission of India has issued guidelines regarding providing free broadcast time on Doordarshan and All India Radio to national parties and recognized state political parties of the concerned state. Recognized political parties get the opportunity to inform the voters about their policies and programmes, manifestos and their views on major issues through free broadcast on Doordarshan and All India Radio. It is also an important source of information for voters to understand the policy issues of different parties.
According to the information received from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, for the Assembly Elections-2023, all national parties and recognized state parties in Chhattisgarh will initially be provided a uniform period of 45 minutes for campaigning on the regional networks of Doordarshan and All India Radio. There are instructions from the Commission. Also, the decision of allotment of additional time is taken by the Commission on the basis of the voting performance of the political parties in the last Assembly elections or the last general elections to the Lok Sabha, as the case may be. Not more than 15 minutes will be given at a time for broadcasting. Political parties will be given the opportunity to broadcast on Doordarshan and All India Radio from the day of publication of the list of candidates for election till two days before the voting day of each phase.
In the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections-2023, a total of 629 minutes have been earmarked for broadcast to political parties in Chhattisgarh on Doordarshan and similarly a total of 629 minutes have been earmarked for broadcast on radio. In this, time has been given proportionately to all the parties. In compliance with the above guidelines, the day and time for telecast was decided by drawing lots on 19 October 2023 by officials of Doordarshan and Prasar Bharati in the presence of recognized political parties in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. This broadcasting facility will be provided to political parties in the state from the regional broadcasting centers of Doordarshan and All India Radio and the broadcasting center located in the capital Raipur. It will also be broadcast by other relay centers of Doordarshan and All India Radio located in Chhattisgarh.
According to the amended provisions of the Representation of the People Act-1951, there is a provision to provide adequate time to all recognized political parties for campaigning on the electronic broadcasting mediums (Doordarshan and All India Radio) of the Central Government. Under this Act, during the upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, national and recognized regional parties will be provided free time for campaigning by the public (government) sector broadcaster Prasar Bharati Corporation.
Political parties will have to strictly follow the parameters set by the Commission. The recording and its transcript will have to be submitted in advance for broadcast. The Commission has given strict guidelines for the content of broadcast. The broadcast should include criticism of other countries, attacks on religions and communities, anything obscene or offensive, incitement to violence, contempt of court, condemnation of the integrity of the President and the Court, anything affecting the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the nation, any No criticism will be allowed by taking the name of the person.
