Andhra Pradesh   

Surrogate ads help curb poll expenditure

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, APRIL 23. The contestants of all parties in the district have found a new saviour in keeping their election expenditure in the limits specified by the Election Commission. The innovative idea is not only giving them the much needed media publicity but also helping the media prop-up their revenue.

For about a fortnight, all the regional language newspapers are publishing articles in a box, hailing the candidates' public life. For a lay reader the articles appear as if they are genuine news items. But, in reality they are the advertisements issued by the contestants in the form of news articles to escape the EC norms on election expenditure. Such surrogate advertisements eulogise the particular candidate who has paid for it. The `news items' also carry photographs of the contestants participating in development/social activities or canvassing. The articles claim that the candidates have tremendous popularity and peoples' support.

Some regional language newspapers have gone a step further and have decided not to publish any regular news items on the campaigning of the contestants. Instead, they are carrying the news on campaigning only in the form of advertisements. Most of the newspapers are forcing the candidates to give such surrogate advertisements. "There is no other way left for us, if we want to get publicity for our campaigning,'' remarked a candidate from Anantapur Assembly constituency.

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