Advertising Board Urges Candidates to Avoid Misleading Ads During Election Campaigning

Kathmandu. The Advertising Board has urged candidates not to publish or broadcast misleading advertisements during the campaign for the House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21 (Falgun 21).

Issuing a press release on Thursday, the Board stated that it has been receiving complaints regarding acts on social media and elsewhere that directly or indirectly demean any party, its candidates, leaders, or cadres, or create confusion.

The Board also informed that it is monitoring and regulating advertisements in coordination with the Election Commission, based on an agreement between the two bodies to monitor, regulate, investigate, and take action regarding advertisements during the election period. The press release mentioned, "The Advertising Board, the regulatory body for the advertising sector, is closely studying acts such as misleading voters, demeaning them, and deceiving them using misleading audio and audiovisual materials."

The Board further stated that action will be taken according to the law if any activity is found to be in violation of the Advertising (Regulation) Act, 2076, the Advertising (Regulation) Rules, 2077, the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, or the Code of Conduct for Production, Distribution, Publication, and Broadcasting of Advertisements, 2079.