GECs
Campaigning on the web? Get a certification, says EC
NEW DELHI: The world has gone digital and so has the Indian political system. With more and more political parties using social media for election campaigns, the election commission (EC) has now directed the chief electoral officers of all states and union territories that details of the social media accounts of the candidates (besides the recognised political parties) who are contesting elections have to be communicated to the commission.
Candidates and political parties will now have to keep the EC posted about their social media accounts and websites used for campaigning, expenditure incurred for maintaining the sites and development of advertisement. Besides, the model code of conduct will also become applicable on the social media.
According to the commission, a candidate having an account on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or even apps, has to update the commission with their email ids.
The EC has also stated that campaigning on the web will require pre-certification from competent authorities. No political advertisement can be released to any internet-based website, including social media sites without this pre-certification. This certificate is issued by the media certification and monitoring committees at the district and state level.
Not only this, candidates and political parties in the statement submitted to the EC have to include all expenditure incurred on advertisements on social media. This includes: payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying their advertisements, money paid for developing such content for the web, as well as salaries and wages paid to the workers employed to maintain the social media accounts.
The commission has also stated that the model code of conduct will be applicable to the content posted on the internet. However, the commission will consult the Communication and Information Technology Ministry on the content posted by persons other than the candidates and political parties.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
