The Nanded administration in Maharashtra has issued an order prohibiting broadcasting of election-related topics by local hub All India Radio (AIR) and other radio channels in the district for 48 hours before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, reported news agency PTI.
Collector Abhijit Raut, returning officer of Nanded Lok Sabha constituency, issued the order on Monday, PTI reported.
The order cited a provision mentioned in a manual published by the Election Commission of India, which “prohibits the display of election material through television or similar apparatus.”
It is clarified that the radio will be treated as “other similar devices” for this purpose and, therefore, it will not be allowed to transmit or propagate any electoral matter through the radio during the 48-hour period mentioned in the said section, it said, reported PTI.
Legal action will be initiated if the order is not followed during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the collector said.
Meanwhile, election authorities have asked candidates from Maharashtra’s Latur Lok Sabha constituency to refrain from making inflammatory speeches and personal criticism against their opponents during their campaign, PTI reported.
Latur General Election Observer Niranjan Kumar on Tuesday met the candidates at the district board and also asked them to follow the model code of conduct and cooperate with authorities for holding elections in a transparent and peaceful manner, PTI reported. .
Twenty-eight candidates are in the fray for the election to the Latur Lok Sabha seat, which will be held on May 7.
Among the major political parties, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Sudhakar Shrangare, the Congress has given a ticket to Shivaji Kalge and the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has fielded Narsingrao Nivritti Udgirkar, reported the PTI.
During the meeting, Kumar said, “Candidates should not make inflammatory and provocative speeches during the campaign and refrain from personal criticism,” PTI reported.
It is mandatory for candidates to mention the expenses of each campaign in their electoral expense record, he stated.
Campaigning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections should be carried out within the prescribed period only after obtaining prior permission from the authorities, Kumar said, PTI reported.
Latur collector and returning officer Varsha Thakur-Ghuge was present on the occasion.
(With input from PTI)