Former BJP Corporator Amol Balwadkar Faces Action for Violating Election Guidelines
Pune’s Collector and District Election Officer, Dr. Suhas Diwase, has issued a show cause notice to former BJP Corporator Amol Balwadkar for conducting political campaigning on social media platforms. The notice demands Balwadkar to cease the advertisement released on social media immediately and provides him with an opportunity to explain his actions, warning of potential consequences.
The show cause notice, dated April 5th and signed by the District Collector, highlights that political advertisements on social media channels must receive approval from the District Level Media Certification and Control Committee. Failure to comply with these regulations constitutes a violation of the Indian Representation of the People Act and the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act.
Amol Balwadkar, a former corporator of the Bharatiya Janata Party from Baner, had posted a political advertisement on his Facebook page, prompting action from the District Information Officer and Member Secretary of the District Level Media Verification and Control Committee. The notice emphasizes that all political advertisements on social media platforms require pre-certification.
Furthermore, the notice specifies that Balwadkar proceeded with the political advertisement on social media without obtaining prior certification from the committee. It underscores the necessity for certification by the District Level Media Certification and Control Committee for broadcasting or publishing any political content on social media platforms. The notice mandates the immediate cessation of advertisements on social media until the verification process is complete.
The issuance of this notice underscores the importance of adhering to election guidelines and regulations, particularly regarding political campaigning on social media platforms, to ensure fairness and transparency in the electoral process.
