<p>New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to the Rajasthan Congress president on charges of "camouflaging" political advertisements in newspapers as news reports or political predictions and "distorting" the level playing field by "creating confusion in the minds of the electors".</p><p>It asked Govind Singh Dotasra, the state unit chief, to respond to the notice by 3 pm on Thursday. The EC action came following <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/rajasthan/bjp-files-ec-complaint-against-congress-over-inappropriate-ads-in-poll-bound-rajasthan-2779715">a complaint filed by the BJP</a> about an advertisement placed by the Congress in a newspaper which the party said was presented in such a manner to prejudice the voters in Rajasthan.</p><p>In its notice, the EC said the advertisement, which spoke about a Congress wave in Rajasthan, placed on front pages of the newspaper at the 'masthead' location, "fails to adhere to the standards expected" from a national party and it has been designed to look like a news item with the view to "disorient" the voters.</p><p>"It is not only misleading but also seems aimed at causing a confusion in the minds of the voters regarding the outcome of the election, thereby attempting to disturb the level playing field," the notice said.</p>.Choice for Rajasthan voters: Congress' guarantees vs BJP's Hindutva, anti-graft plank.<p>"...in the interim, refrain from utilising this format, content, language and placement of advertisement, which as per your own party's complaint in March, violates the spirit of the Representation of the People Act and the model code of conduct...," the notice added.</p><p>Quoting the complaint, it said the advertisements have been presented in a manner so as to look like newspaper headlines in an attempt to give credibility to a pure political campaign. </p><p>The EC reminded that parties are permitted and expected to issue advertisements without its clearance before 48 hours of polling but subject to accounting and clear citation to identify political advertisements as such.</p><p>It referred to the Congress' complaint in March 2021 during Assam elections when the BJP had used an advertisement, which could be confused for a news headline. </p><p>The EC said the latest advertisement by the Rajasthan Congress does not have the party symbol, though the BJP advertisement in March 2021 was shown prominently. "...the further obfuscation is in play and as assessed by the Congress in its representation of 28 March, 2021, the concern of distortion on level playing field is even more exaggerated," it said.</p><p>It said the political advertisements by parties and other stakeholders should not be masqueraded as news. </p>
<p>New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to the Rajasthan Congress president on charges of "camouflaging" political advertisements in newspapers as news reports or political predictions and "distorting" the level playing field by "creating confusion in the minds of the electors".</p><p>It asked Govind Singh Dotasra, the state unit chief, to respond to the notice by 3 pm on Thursday. The EC action came following <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/rajasthan/bjp-files-ec-complaint-against-congress-over-inappropriate-ads-in-poll-bound-rajasthan-2779715">a complaint filed by the BJP</a> about an advertisement placed by the Congress in a newspaper which the party said was presented in such a manner to prejudice the voters in Rajasthan.</p><p>In its notice, the EC said the advertisement, which spoke about a Congress wave in Rajasthan, placed on front pages of the newspaper at the 'masthead' location, "fails to adhere to the standards expected" from a national party and it has been designed to look like a news item with the view to "disorient" the voters.</p><p>"It is not only misleading but also seems aimed at causing a confusion in the minds of the voters regarding the outcome of the election, thereby attempting to disturb the level playing field," the notice said.</p>.Choice for Rajasthan voters: Congress' guarantees vs BJP's Hindutva, anti-graft plank.<p>"...in the interim, refrain from utilising this format, content, language and placement of advertisement, which as per your own party's complaint in March, violates the spirit of the Representation of the People Act and the model code of conduct...," the notice added.</p><p>Quoting the complaint, it said the advertisements have been presented in a manner so as to look like newspaper headlines in an attempt to give credibility to a pure political campaign. </p><p>The EC reminded that parties are permitted and expected to issue advertisements without its clearance before 48 hours of polling but subject to accounting and clear citation to identify political advertisements as such.</p><p>It referred to the Congress' complaint in March 2021 during Assam elections when the BJP had used an advertisement, which could be confused for a news headline. </p><p>The EC said the latest advertisement by the Rajasthan Congress does not have the party symbol, though the BJP advertisement in March 2021 was shown prominently. "...the further obfuscation is in play and as assessed by the Congress in its representation of 28 March, 2021, the concern of distortion on level playing field is even more exaggerated," it said.</p><p>It said the political advertisements by parties and other stakeholders should not be masqueraded as news. </p>
