The BJP led Rajasthan government under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has issued advertisements that cost the exchequer more than Rs 25,30,00,000, to state level newspapers in the 31 days before the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. This has been revealed in a letter issued by the Financial Advisor of the Information & Public Relations Department of the state government.

According to the letter issued to the state level newspapers, advertisements have been issued to the newspapers continuously from 14 February 2024 to 15 March 2024. Out of these, 35 advertisements have been issued by various departments, while four advertisements have been issued by the Information and Public Relations Department itself. Advertisement for ERCP has been issued to maximum i.e. 85 newspapers on 25th February. Similarly, an advertisement for PM Solar Plant Scheme has been issued by the Information and Public Relations Department to 60 newspapers on March 13. Whereas on March 14, DIPR has issued advertisement to 57 newspapers. Apart from this, on March 12 also DIPR has issued advertisements to 54 newspapers. According to this letter, advertisements have been issued in newspapers continuously for a total of 31 days.

According to the letter, the financial advisor has requested the newspapers taking advertisements to submit bills to the concerned department, so that payment can be made in this financial year. According to sources, if the amount of advertisement released on electronic news channels and radio FM channels is added up, it can total up to nearly Rs 50 Crore.

At the same time, the Information and Public Relations Department of the Rajasthan government has failed to release advertisements on the digital media platforms. DIPR has not issued advertisements to even a single news website registered with the previous government due to a failed digital media policy. Nor has the payment for the advertisements issued by the previous government been made yet to the respective social media platforms.