In preparation for the upcoming elections on April 9, candidates in Kerala are prohibited from interacting with the media until polling concludes. Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar clarified that this ban applies to all forms of media communication, citing the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

• 01Candidates cannot interact with media until polling ends on April 9.
• 02Clarifications regarding media interactions can be sought in writing from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• 03The ban includes all election-related messages conveyed through media.
• 04This restriction aligns with Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• 05Press conferences are also included in the media interaction ban.

This restriction affects how candidates communicate with voters and the media, potentially limiting voter engagement and information dissemination during the critical polling period.