After Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan's announcement about DD's new 24-hour news channel, the EC has sought to curb any tendency to misuse the mass media in the run up to the elections.

Prasar Bharati CEO, the Secretary, I and B Ministry, and senior DD officials were instructed to maintain ``absolute neutrality'' in the news bulletins and other news related programmes. The EC has also called for detailed reports on these aspects from the officials.

Commission sources said it had given a ``clear and unambiguous message'' to the senior officials that absolute neutrality is to be maintained in the news programmes with fair and balanced coverage of the views and opinions of the various players in the political spectrum.

The Commission had recentlydirected that during the election period, the ministry and political executive should leave the day-to-day operations of the All India Radio and DD to Prasar Bharati, allowing them to function without political interference of any kind.

On August 12, the EC turned down a demand of the Opposition to stay the launch of 24-hour news channel by Doordarshan. But while sharing the Opposition's concern over the possible misuse of television during elections, the EC asked the Prasar Bharati board to ensure its neutrality, objectivity and fairness during the ``sensitive'' period. The Commission has also separately asked Prasar Bharati Corporation to provide details of the personalities involved in the news and current affairs programmes proposed to be telecast during the pre-election period.

The EC was given an assurance by the officials that they would abide by its directives in both ``letter and spirit'' as well as provide regular updates to the Commission.