New Delhi: The Election Commission is caught in a Catch 22 situation in the wake of a query from the Prasar Bharati - whether to allow telecast of films in which those from the Bollywood contesting the polls or campaigning, are cast.

The Prasar Bharati's action has made the Commission to think on the matter on an urgent basis and the poll panel is scheduled to deliberate on this ticklish issue this week.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Unlike in the past, there are lot of stars from the tinsel world who are in the fray including Govinda, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Jayaprada, Smriti 'Tulsi' Irani and a host of other stars are campaigning for different parties.

The Prasar Bharati had raised a query apparently as a matter of abundant precaution and is insisting on an early response from the poll panel.

The Commission in 1996 had banned telecast of films featuring Rajesh Khanna, who was contesting the Lok Sabha polls then.

Since then, there has been a mushrooming of television channels. EC sources feel that they can only control the public broadcaster but are not clear as to how much authority they can wield on private channels. This has been especially so in view of the controversy over the telecast of political advertisements on private channels.