The Election Commission has directed the audio and visual media not to broadcast any election related programme during the 48-hour period preceding the polls in each phase of the Assembly elections in Kerala.

State Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto issued the instruction on Monday that all election related broadcast, such as debates, surveys, advertisements and propaganda should be stopped 48 hours before the close of polls in the first phase.

The elections to the first phase would be held on April 22.