New Delhi [India], Sending a strong message, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday asked all states/UTs to ensure clear identification of the printer and publisher on printed election-related material, including hoardings, ensuring accountability and transparency in campaign communications. Instructed to make it mandatory. The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and D. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, took the decision after it received representations that hoarding in hoarding locations controlled by municipal authorities could be carried out without the identity of the printer or The publisher came to the notice of the poll body. Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 clearly prohibits the printing or publication of election pamphlets, posters, placards or banners without prominently displaying the name and address of the publisher. This requirement to disclose the identity of publishers serves as the cornerstone to regulate campaign financing and fix responsibility if the content is found not to conform to the framework of the Model Code of Conduct statutory provisions. It may be recalled that CEC Rajiv Kumar has addressed the issue of money and muscle power as well as misinformation as a challenge to level playing field.With this Direction, the Commission has now put the accountability on printer publishers, licensees/contractors of urban local bodies renting outdoor advertising space for political advertisements published on outdoor media. This is in continuation of the recent advisory of ECI vide Press Note dated 02.04. 2024 All newspaper editors have been asked to be cautious while publishing political advertisements in newspapers. Attention of all stakeholders is also invited to the instructions issued by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to all its licensees and contractors on political advertisements on outdoor media of MCD dated 03.04.2024. The directions, while allowing political advertisements for the promotion of a party/candidate, prohibit any political advertisement directed against a party or candidate.In relation to advertisements of the ruling party/government, political advertisements issued at the expense of the exchequer are also prohibited. All political advertisements will be displayed only after certification/approval of the designated authority responsible for approving advertisements.