MUMBAI: The Election Commission (EC) of India has directed the chief electoral officer (CEO) of New Delhi to ensure that the recently launched NaMo TV has been certified. According to reports, it wants the channel’s content to be pre-certified by a local media certification and monitoring committee.

During polls, such committees are assigned at district and state levels to clear political campaign and advertisements. The EC has also asked the CEO to inform whether the political contents were at any time cleared by the certification committee.

Within days of its mysterious launch, the EC shot off a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeking details on NaMo TV. In its response, MIB is said to have responded that NaMo TV is an advertisement platform by DTH service providers which does not require a government nod. It is also learnt to have said that NaMo TV is not a regular channel and it does not figure in the official list of approved channels.

If NaMo TV is an advertisement platform, the EC said that all political advertisements need to be pre-certified. In case this wasn’t done, the CEO needs to provide a reason. Political parties must apply for a certification before the telecast of ads. The EC has also stated that the BJP has to show the expenditure on NaMo TV in its election expenditure statement that needs to be filed with it.

NaMo TV went live a few days ago and was soon rechristened to Content TV . The app features PM Narendra Modi on its logo and seems to be an extension of the NaMo app. The channel currently airs content related to the Prime Minister, his speeches and government ads.