Election Commission as a watchdog of Political party's ethical use of media.

Election commission is back into the role of a watchdog, looking closely on the media usage by political parties.

It all started with the ruling coalitions India Shining Campaign featuring it's achievements with Lok Sabha elections in toe. It was taken by some as the pre-poll campaign by the opposition and defended as the governments only meand to showcase its achievements.

It was appreciated by many as it encapsulated the essence of achievement during the past five years.; achievement in general, financial and rural growth and development. It was hailed by others, mainly the opposition for the lapses not shwn and the misuse of public fund.

More recently there was a roe over personal mudslinging in political advertisements in Andhra Pradesh. Soon came the election commissions verdict against this an all political surrogate advertising.

The Election Commission is a neutral organisation, which, by all accounts, is acting entirely independent of political pulls and pressures. It wants all candidates to get an equal platform to contend elections and not all the contenders can afford the electronic media advertisement. Thus it has put a restriction on political advertisements in the electronic media.

The government has pulled back the the campaign and many have resolved to avoid personal attacks. Some achievement on the election Commission's part.

The commission has a media policy and holds regular briefings for the mass media-print and electronic, on a regular basis, at close intervals during the election period. The Commission has taken several new initiatives regarding the use of State owned Electronic Media for broadcast/ telecast by Political parties.

The issue of ethics by parties regarding the use of media has always been debatable. Till now the Election commission has been able to moniter it and clean the dirt. Campaign for the first phase ends on 18th April 2004, crucial time begins now.