EC allots parties time to campaign on DD, AIR for K'taka poll

The Election Commission has allotted broadcast and telecast time to political parties for carrying out election campaigns on Doordarshan and All India Radio for the May 5 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The commission has decided to extend the equitable time sharing scheme on the electronic media through Prasar Bharati Corporation and the use of broadcast and telecast time will be available only to national parties and recognised state parties in the polls.

While Congress has got the maximum time 166 minutes, the ruling BJP has got 163 minutes in Karnataka for each of broadcast and telecast, followed by JD-S with 111 minutes. Karnataka will go to polls on May 5 to elect its 224- member Assembly and counting of votes will be held on May 8.

The tenure of current Karnataka Assembly expires on June 3.

While 36 constituencies are reserved for SCs, 15 are reserved for STs in the state. The campaigning facility will be available from Regional Kendras of All India Radio and Doordarshan and in the headquarters of Karnataka and relayed by other stations within the state.

The EC has said a base time of 45 minutes would be given to each national party and recognised state party (in respect of Karnataka) uniformly on the Regional Kendra of Doordarshan network and All India Radio network in Karnataka and any additional time allotted is on the basis of performance of parties in the last polls.

No party will, however, be allocated more than 15 minutes in a single session of broadcast and time vouchers will be issued in the denomination of 5 minutes to each of the six national parties - BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI, CPM, and NCP and the sole recognised regional party - the JD(S).

The period of broadcast and telecast will be between the last date of filing the nominations and will end two days before the date of poll in Karnataka.