Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections on May 12, Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat has appealed to local technology firms and experts to keep a close watch on social media platforms and highlight instances of “fake news,” saying action could be initiated against those involved.
Speaking to The Hindu , he said: “This has been done for the first time. The Commission has asked the local technology firms to remain vigilant, particularly with respect to social media. If any possible manipulation through fake news is found, they should expose all such cases and bring them in the public domain so that the Commission can take stern action.”
Mr. Rawat, who visited Karnataka along with senior EC officials last week to review the preparations for next month’s Assembly election, said the Commission had received one report on the issue of “paid news”.
Mr. Rawat said: “We received a report from one District Magistrate pointing out that a newspaper has been reporting in favour of a prospective candidate. We have told him that, at this stage, we should not do anything. However, a record of all such reports be maintained.”
The moment the individual becomes an election candidate, all the reports in his favour can be treated as “paid news.
Calling on local tech firms and experts to help detect ‘fake news’, Mr. Rawat said there were a large number of social media platforms and it would be difficult for the Commission to keep track of all of them. “Therefore, we have sought active participation of all stakeholders to check such practices,” he said.
A Gazette notification for the election will be issued on April 17. While the last date of nominations is on April 24, the last date of withdrawal of candidatures is April 27. Mr. Rawat expressed satisfaction over the fact that none of the political parties in Karnataka raised any issue regarding Electronic Voting Machines. However, they highlighted concerns over use of money power to influence voters.
‘Use of money power’
“Use of money to influence voters is an important issue. We have taken measures to check such practices. A number of flying squads and surveillance teams have been deployed, closed-circuit television cameras have been installed and expenditure observers and poll officials are at work,” said Mr. Rawat.
The Commission has interacted with senior officials of the Income-Tax, Goods and Services Tax Department, the State administration and the police to review the arrangements.
He said, “As of now, more than ₹2 crore in cash, 2.4 kg of gold, items like pressure cookers and saris worth ₹1.56 crore have been seized. We found that the pressure cookers meant for distribution carried photographs of a prospective candidate.”
As the nominations have not been filed yet, the Election Commission cannot initiate legal action right now. However, once the person gets listed as a candidate, he will come under scrutiny. “All this evidence will go against him as it is an offence of bribery,” said the CEC.
Mr. Rawat said the systematic voter education programme was being implemented on a war-footing in Karnataka. Cricketing legend Rahul Dravid, who is also the State icon, has appealed to the youth to enrol as voters and participate in the elections.
On law and order, Mr. Rawat said all necessary arrangements were in place. “All the cases registered during the last elections have been investigated and prosecutions filed. The conviction rate is as high as 40% in some districts, with an average of 20% across the State,” he said.
