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Udupi, April 20: District Collector Dr. K. Vidyakumari told the media representatives that the media should act responsibly and not violate the code of conduct while promoting their daily news, advertisement and other matters in their media regarding the Lok Sabha elections.

She was speaking at an information workshop on the role of journalists in elections under the joint auspices of the District Administration, the District Working Journalists Association and the Department of News and Public Relations, Udupi District, at the Brahmagiri press club in the city today.

The Election Commission has enacted many rules and regulations to conduct fair elections and has also issued some guidelines. She said that by imposing other restrictions including obtaining prior permission from the authority before publishing advertisements in electronic media, restriction on not publishing news for money, restriction on campaigning on the fixed days of election polls, the aim is to facilitate voters to vote freely without being subjected to undue influence.

She said that articles praising a candidate who contested for a particular election in a way that is favorable to him, writing repeatedly praising him that he has the support of every section of the society, news saying that he will win the election in the constituency as well as giving exaggerated coverage of a repeat candidate, will come under the news coverage for money.

Before publishing advertisements through social networking sites, electronic media, websites and other digital media, prior approval of the District MCMC should be obtained. If this is violated once, it becomes a crime under the law, she said.

The Lok Sabha elections in the country will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19 and ending on June 1 at 6.30 pm, the Election Commission has banned broadcasting of any election-related poll results, including opinion polls, in any media, she said.

She said it is mandatory to get the prior permission of the state or district MCMC committee before publishing various political advertisements in the print media on the day of polling and the day before polling.

In the same context, the total number of voters in the district, the details of contested candidates, details of essential services and polling day duty officers and staff taken to vote, numbers of use of voting machines, details of teams formed to prevent violation of election code of conduct, illegal materials, money and other details seized so far. She explained the information in detail.

Every voter of the district should cast the precious constitutionally available vote in the elections to be held on April 26 and May 7.

  District Panchayat CEO and District Sweep Committee Chairman Prateek Boyal, District Superintendent of Police and District Police Nodal Officer Dr. Arun K, District Press Officer and Media Nodal Officer Manjunath B, District President of Journalists Association Rajesh Shetty Alevuru, Secretary Nazir Polya and others were present.