EC Bans BJP Election Campaign Ad Which Shows Kids in West Bengal

The complaint was filed by TMC leader Derek O’Brien

BJP West Bengal chief Rahul Sinha during a press conference in the party office. (Photo Courtesy: Rahul Sinha/Facebook)

The Election Commission has banned an election advertisement by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for using children and an educational institute as poll campaigning material.

The Committee (Media Certification Appellate Committee), after due consideration, is of the opinion that the purported audio-visual advertisement had erred on both counts of using an educational institution for the purpose of campaigning as well as using children below 14 years for use of political campaign in contravention of legal provision.

<b>Letter by chief electoral officer to BJP</b>

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien had complained before the poll watchdog that a 30-second TV ad ‘Sunyo’ violates the model code of conduct and provisions entailed in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. After examining the complaint, the committee which is chaired by Chief Election Officer Sunil Gupta decided to direct BJP to withdraw the ad from all kinds of media with immediate effect.