The Election Commission (EC) has allotted broadcast and telecast times to recognised political parties, to enable them to conduct an election campaign on Doordarshan and All India Radio, for the Karnataka Assembly elections.
The Commission has decided to extend the equitable time-sharing scheme on electronic media through the Prasar Bharati Corporation. However, use of broadcast and telecast time will be available only to national parties and recognised State parties in the polls. Of the total 630 minutes, Congress got the maximum time of 166 minutes, the ruling BJP was granted 163 minutes in Karnataka each for broadcast and telecast, followed by JD-S with 111 minutes. Time allotted for others parties is: BSP (54 minutes), CPI-M (46 minutes), CPI and NCP (45 minutes each).
No time was allotted to the KJP, led by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the BSR Congress, led by former minister R Sriramulu — as both are not recognised.
The campaigning facility will be available from the regional centres of All India Radio and Doordarshan and at their Karnataka headquarters. The message will also be relayed by other stations within the State.
45 minutes only
The EC has said that a base time of 45 minutes will be given to each national and recognised State party, uniformly at the regional centres of Doordarshan and AIR networks in Karnataka.
Any additional time will be allotted on the basis of party performance in the last polls.
No party will, however, be allocated more than 15 minutes in a single session of broadcast and time vouchers will be issued in the denomination of five minutes to each of the six national parties — BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI, CPM, and NCP and the lone recognised regional party — the JD(S).
The period of broadcast will be telecast between the last date of filing the nominations and two days before the date of poll in Karnataka. "There will, however, be no telecast or broadcast during the 48 hours preceding the close of polls as per specific provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951,” the EC said in an order.
In addition to the broadcast by parties, the EC said that Prasar Bharati will organise a maximum of two panel discussions on DD/AIR and each party can nominate one representative for such a programme.
The EC will approve coordinators for the discussions. The Prasar Bharati Corporation, in consultation with the Commission, will decide the actual date and time for broadcast and telecast, said an order.