Chief Electoral Officer VL Kantha Rao inspected state level Media Monitoring Centre situated at Nirvachan Sadan and gave instructions that attention should be paid on paid news with utmost seriousness and sensitiveness. Video clippings and cuttings of all the news channels and news papers should be compiled.

Rao further mentioned that the MCMC located in the districts will send a report with its recommendations in connection to paid news to the District Election Officer. The DEO will issue notice to the concerned candidate in this regard. In case of paid news, its expenditure will be added in the account of the candidate. In case of dissatisfaction, candidate will make appeal before the state level MCMC. Information will be obtained from the Media Monitoring Room on receipt of complaint of violation of model code of conduct. During the inspection, the Commissioner Public Relations P Narhari informed in detail about the media monitoring room and informed that news channels are being watched 24 hours on screen and news papers cuttings are being sent to the office of the Chief Electoral Officers daily in morning and evening. Moreover, a report of 678 electronic media news has already been sent to the Nodal Officer of the MCMC. In compliance to the directives of the Election Commission, news and advertisements being issued on news channels are being monitored on over 20 TV screens by setting up media monitoring room by the Public Relations Department. Additional Director, Public Relations Department LR Sisodia has been made in-charge of this room. Along with him, Joint Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director and Assistant Public Relations Officers besides over 30 employees are recording news being telecasted on news channels by keeping 24 hours watch on news channels.