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Delhi’s CEO issues notice to PM Narendra Modi makers for ‘violation’ of model code of conduct

Filmmaker Omung Kumar B’s PM Narendra Modi, a biopic of India’s current prime minister, has run into trouble with the country’s election authorities.

The film’s producers and some newspapers in the national capital region have been issued notices for putting out advertisements promoting the biopic, according to a report on the website TheWire.in.

Since the model code of conduct has been in force since 10 March, when the schedule for the country’s 17th general elections was announced, any political advertisement circulated on print, electronic or social media has to be pre-certified by the media certification and monitoring committee.

“If any uncertified political or surrogate advertisement is circulated, it is violation of the model code of conduct. Whosever has done it is given an opportunity to explain their stand,” Delhi’s chief electoral officer Ranbir Singh told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Ranbir Singh also told the agency that they were looking into the matter and would give recommendations to the Election Commission on what action to take.

East Delhi returning officer K Mahesh also told The Wire that the Election Commission might draw up guidelines for political films being released during elections in the future.

Several opposition parties, including the Congress, the DMK and the NCP, have already voiced their objections to the poll panel.

Additionally, 47 retired civil servants have written a letter to the chief election commissioner to stop the film’s release until after the election as the film “would create enormous electoral mileage for the prime minister and the party in power”.

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