Curbing ‘Paid News’ in the Electoral Arena

The Election Commission’s order disqualifying Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra for three years is an important step in curbing ‘paid news’ in the electoral arena. It is not the first such order. An Uttar Pradesh MLA, Umlesh Yadav, was disqualified in 2011 on the same ground, of suppressing expenditure incurred in the publication of paid news.

Allegations against Narottam Mishra

• It was a part of the complaint, and the EC dealt with it at length. The complainant submitted copies of 42 suspicious news items that had appeared in five Hindi newspapers between November 8 and 27, 2008, and said they ....