ECI Issues Strict Guidelines on Print Ads, Cracks Down on Election Violations Ahead of Polls

New Delhi, April 2026 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday rolled out comprehensive guidelines mandating pre-certification of political advertisements in print media for the upcoming Assembly elections and bye-elections, reinforcing measures to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.

The Commission had earlier announced the poll schedule on March 15 for Assembly elections in multiple states, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in six other states. With campaigning intensifying, the ECI’s latest directive aims to regulate the publication of political advertisements, particularly during the crucial final phase before voting.

Under the new rules, no political party, candidate, organisation, or individual will be allowed to publish advertisements in print media on the day of polling or the day preceding it without prior approval. Such advertisements must be certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), which operates at both the state and district levels.

The Commission clarified that individual candidates and independent applicants should seek approval from the district-level MCMC, while recognised political parties headquartered in a state or Union Territory must approach the state-level committee for certification.

The guidelines also specify clear timelines based on polling dates. For Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, where voting is scheduled for April 9, pre-certification will be mandatory for advertisements published on April 8 and 9. In Tamil Nadu, which goes to the polls on April 23, certification will be required for advertisements appearing on April 22 and 23.

West Bengal, which will witness a two-phase election on April 23 and April 29, will require pre-certification for ads published on April 22 and 23 for the first phase, and April 28 and 29 for the second phase. These timelines are designed to ensure that all campaign material released during the sensitive silence period is closely scrutinised.

To streamline the process, the ECI has directed that applications for pre-certification must be submitted at least two days before the intended date of publication. MCMCs across states and districts have been activated to process requests efficiently and ensure timely approvals.

In addition to regulating advertisements, the Commission has tasked these committees with monitoring instances of “paid news,” a practice where promotional content is disguised as news reporting. Authorities have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance and take prompt action against violations.

Meanwhile, the ECI highlighted significant enforcement efforts in poll-bound states. According to data released on April 5, authorities have seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other inducements worth over ₹650 crore so far. The Commission reported total seizures amounting to ₹651.51 crore since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26.

These measures reflect the Commission’s intensified monitoring and commitment to curbing malpractice, ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and inducement-free environment across the country.