With the campaign period for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections drawing to a close on May 14, the Election Commission has barred political parties from any communications on social media. It has also barred all other forms of electronic communications, including via the internet and SMS.

A press release issued by the Chief Election Officer, it said, " No one shall display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus, like FM Radios, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, etc. This includes all electronic form of communication, including SMS and internet.”

The Election Commission has also barred political parties from conducting any events. “No one shall propagate any election matter to the public by holding or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the member of the public thereto,” states the press release.

The conduct of opinion polls or the publishing of results of any opinion polls are barred from 48 hours before polling, that is, from 6pm on May 14 until 6pm on May 16. Exit polls have already been banned from since 7am on May 4 till 6.30pm on May 16.