NE POLITICAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAR 20
In a decisive push to ensure transparency and curb misuse of media during elections, the Election Commission of India has mandated pre-certification of all political advertisements—including those on digital and social media platforms—by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).
Political Parties to get advertisements pre-certified by MCMC ✅
Candidates to share details of their authentic social media accounts ✅
Read more : https://t.co/Ei1M6LG9T9 pic.twitter.com/l14MwuxpAB
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 20, 2026
The directive follows the announcement of poll schedules on March 15, 2026, for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in six states.
- Mandatory pre-clearance by MCMC for every political advertisement—TV to TikTok
- Candidates must disclose verified social media handles in nomination affidavits
- Strict watch on paid news, fake narratives & digital misinformation ecosystem
- Ad spends on online campaigns to be fully accounted under election expenses
- High-level coordination with tech platforms, police & IT nodal officers to ensure compliance
Ad clearance now non-negotiable
Under the new norms, no political advertisement—across TV, radio, e-papers, bulk messaging, public displays, or social media—can be released without prior approval from the MCMC.
- Candidates must apply through District MCMC
- Political parties can approach State-level MCMC
- Appeals will be handled by a State Appellate Committee led by the Chief Electoral Officer
The Commission has made it clear: any violation will invite strict action, reinforcing accountability in campaign messaging.
Digital Transparency Gets a Boost
In a significant move to track online influence, candidates are now required to declare all authentic social media accounts in their affidavits at the time of filing nominations.
This step aims to curb anonymous campaigning and ensure traceability of digital outreach—especially crucial in an era dominated by algorithm-driven narratives.
Paid news & fake content under scanner
MCMCs have been tasked with maintaining round-the-clock vigilance on paid news and disguised political content, with powers to initiate action against violations.
To further strengthen oversight, a high-level meeting chaired by the Commission on March 19, 2026 brought together:
- Chief Electoral Officers
- State Police Nodal Officers
- IT Nodal Officers
- Representatives from major social media platforms
The focus: swift identification and removal of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news during elections.
Every rupee to be accounted
As per provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and directions of the Supreme Court of India, political parties must submit a detailed account of digital campaign expenditure within 75 days of election completion.
This includes:
- Payments to internet companies and websites
- Social media advertising costs
- Content creation and campaign management expenses
- Operational costs of maintaining digital platforms
