News Channels ordered to stop Telecast

The TV news channels have been ordered not to telecast any  news till the polling is over in the Nizamabad  Urban constituency on Tuesday.

The orders were issued by the Nizamabad Revenue divisional officer as per the norms prescribed by the Election Commission.

When TV news channels air news in violation of the norms of the Election Commission, it is for the Collector and the RDO to take a decision impose a ban on the telecast of such news till the polling is over,  said State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I V.Subba Rao.

The candidates are not supposed to address the public either through a mass communicaton device like the TV or radio. If a channel or radio station airs an interview or a  speech by a political leader or a candidate in the fray, then the Government has the right to cancel  the licence of such radio station or TV channel. Cases may also be filed against such candidates,  the CEO added.

The polling is in progress smoothly  in all the 12 segments so far. In the initial stages, the EVMs had a minor hicups but  later all the EVMs functioned properly,  the CEO observed.