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[br]NOIDA: In what seemed like a last-ditch effort to woo the electorate, candidates took to social networking platforms, such as what's app, as well as newspapers to circulate promotional material hours before voting was set to begin, violating the of conduct.[br]While Congress candidate Arvind Chauhan circulated promotional material through WhatsApp — a simulated ballot paper showing a voter which button to press — others like BSP-SP-RLD alliance candidate Satveer Nagar published an advertisement in a Hindi daily with a similar message. Ghaziabad’s Congress candidate Dolly Sharma published promotional material in a Hindi daily on Wednesday.[br]Asked about the development, N Ramaswami, the observer for Gautam Budh Nagar, said action would be taken against candidates who have violated the poll code. “We held a special meeting and we have clearly explained every step to the candidates. So, all of them are aware of the rules. Today (Wednesday), if anyone has circulated material in any form, be it newspaper advertisements, social media propaganda or mobile-based promotions, we will take action against them. Screenshots of promotional material received on phone can be sent to us. Complaints would be addressed and the district magistrate would act on them,” Ramaswami told TOI.[br][br]Despite repeated attempts, B N Singh, the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, did not comment on the issue.[br][br][br]Congress aspirant Chauhan said the circulation of poll material was an error. “My phone is not in my hand all the time. If someone has circulated messages from my phone number, I will get it checked as to how it was possible. We have followed all rules and stopped all promotion on papers, social media or on mobile-based platforms. The material that went out was probably because of a mistake,” he said.[br][br]Asked about Nagar’s newspaper advertisement, a BSP leader said: “A notice has been sent by the election office to the publication and to our party management. The advertisement was wrongly scheduled by us.”[br]According to local residents, this time, WhatsApp has been widely used for campaigning.[br]“We filed a complaint with the district magistrate a few days ago about how WhatsApp is being widely used to promote some candidates or influence the voters. Small groups that are on WhatsApp have been targeted for promotion and we have flagged it,” said Abhishek Kumar, a homebuyer in Noida. The complaint was filed last week, he said.[br][br] |
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发表于 2019-04-11 21:58:42
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