EC holds DD News guilty of violating Model Code in Delhi polls

New Delhi: The Election Commission has held the state-run Doordarshan guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct by telecasting news about reduced prices of vegetables on the day of Delhi assembly polls and asked its Director General to fix responsibility of officers involved.

Rejecting the contention of Doordarshan that it had not violated the Model Code by telecasting such a news early morning on the day of Delhi elections, the Commission has held that it had violated the Model Code and sought fixing of responsibility. According to sources, DD News was issued a notice by the Commission after it was brought to its notice that on December 4 at around 1 AM it aired a news regarding reduced prices of vegetables by taking the views of public. This was found to be prima-facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct by the poll body and it sought an explanation from DD News. The Election Commission has also sent a copy of its order to CEO Prasar Bharti and the Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under whose purview Doordarshan News falls. Price rise and high vegetable prices was a major issue in the Delhi polls held on December 4. In its campaign the BJP had put out hoardings all over the town outside bus stops highlighting the high prices of vegetables, while the AAP which routed the Congress and formed a government in Delhi with its support later had also made it an issue during campaigning.