New Delhi : As campaigning heats up ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted digital vouchers on Thursday to both national and state parties, allowing free telecast time on Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR). Consequently, this highlights the importance of Bihar polls digital vouchers in reaching voters effectively.
The digital vouchers allow political parties—both national and recognized state parties to use limited ‘free time’ on state-owned television and radio channels for campaigning and promoting their poll promises to a wider audience. Therefore, this initiative plays a crucial role in the Bihar polls.
Additionally, the ECI issued digital time vouchers to all national and state parties in Bihar for the Legislative Assembly elections under Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. As a result, parties consider these Bihar polls digital vouchers a key element in their election strategies.
Under the policy, the ECI provides each party a base time of 45 minutes on both Doordarshan and All India Radio, ensuring uniform allocation on the regional network within the state. Moreover, the ECI may allot additional time to parties based on their performance in the previous Assembly elections.
Issuing the guidelines, the ECI stated, “We will schedule the broadcast/telecast between the date of publication of the candidate list for each phase and two days before polling in Bihar. Furthermore, we will conduct a draw of lots in the presence of authorized party representatives and officials from the CEO, Bihar office to schedule the actual broadcast/telecast.” This structured process ensures parties make effective use of the Bihar polls digital vouchers.
The ECI requires parties to submit transcripts and recordings in advance, strictly following all guidelines. Parties must record the programs in studios that meet technical standards prescribed by Prasar Bharati. In addition, Prasar Bharati Corporation will organize up to two panel discussions and/or debates on Doordarshan and All India Radio for Bihar.
Each eligible party may nominate one representative for the program, which an approved coordinator will moderate. Thus, the combined effort of the ECI and Prasar Bharati ensures transparent and effective utilization of the Bihar polls digital vouchers.
–IANS
