The scourge of paid news has affected the upcoming Assembly polls as well. The Election Commission has identified seven candidates from major political parties in the 26 constituencies in Mumbai’s suburbs who have been issuing advertisements disguised as news.

The Shiv Sena, which has the unenviable distinction of fielding the most number of candidates with criminal records, also leads in the number of candidates from the suburbs who were found to be resorting to paid news. Most of the articles were found in regional newspapers and the Election Commission plans to add the cost to the campaign expenditure of the candidate.