85C. Allocation of equitable sharing of time on electronic media.
(1)The Election Commission shall, for the purposes of allocating equitable sharing of time on the cable television network and other electronic media under sub-section (1) of section 39-A, categories the cable television networks and electronic media into the two separate categories that is to say one category which is owned or controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the Central Government and the other which is not owned of controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the Central Government.(2)For allocating equitable sharing of time on the cable television network and other electronic media owned or controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the Central Government referred to in sub-rule (1), the Election Commission shall determine, in consultation with the Ministry of the Government of India dealing with the concerned subject, the maximum time period available on such cable television network and other electronic media and allocate such time period proportionately among the recognised political parties contesting the election on the basis of their past performances for the purposes of displaying or propagating any election matter or to address public in connection with the election under sub-section (1) of section 39-A.(3)For the purposes of this rule, "past performance of a recognised political party" shall be calculated,-(i)in relation to the election to fill a seat or seats in the House of the People, on the basis of the percentage of votes cast in the last preceding general election in favour of that recognised political party with reference to the total votes cast in that general election, to fill the seats in that House;(ii)in relation to the election to fill a seat or seats in the Legislative Assembly of a State (except the State of Jammu and Kashmir), on the basis of the percentage of the votes cast in the last preceding general election in favour of that recognised political party with reference to the total votes cast in that general election, to fill the seats in that Assembly.
