Gujarat elections: Parties will have to get their films and CDs approved by state EC

After a day full of drama at the state election commission (SEC) and offices of Returning Officers, (ROs), everything was calm on Tuesday.  All officers were busy preparing the final list of candidates after scrutiny of forms and withdrawal of candidature by some candidates.

The SEC has made it clear that while election materials like posters, banners and scrolls on TV Channels can be approved by respective ROs, other content for campaign, including short films will need to be approved by the SEC.

Talking about the guidelines, PS Shah, secretary of SEC said, "Some administrative issues could arise in letting ROs decide over content of short films among others. This is because the interpretation of a content can vary from one RO to another.

Moreover if an RO is given the power to approve such a content the film can be only shown in the constituency for which the RO is in-charge. But it will be very difficult to keep track of such things."

He said hence it was decided that such material will be approved by the SEC at the state level so that there is no discrepancy. He said they are well prepared and there are no major issues except for some technical ones.

"We have asked all district collectors to identify sensitive booths and give us a report on the same so that we can make security arrangements accordingly. Independent candidates will be given their symbols for election on September 29."

He also said that the SEC will keep a watch on the expenditure made by the candidates. "All candidates have been given a register, in which they will have to keep an account of their expenditure. They are also required to show these registers to the officers appointed for monitoring the expenditure of the candidates on every third day."