ALEX Salmond has accused Scotland’s two biggest broadcasters of “distorting the democratic process” after he was left out of their leaders’ debates.
The Alba Party chief was not invited to feature in either the BBC or STV programmes.
His solicitor has already written to the BBC to demand increased coverage ahead of May’s election.
Nicola Sturgeon, however, has said she does not believe Alba meet the criteria for the TV debates.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond warns BBC 'sending viewers to sleep' as Alba demand debate place
Salmond is taking part in a photo call at Stirling Castle as his party launches its campaign in Mid Scotland and Fife.
He is to be joined by regional candidates Eva Comrie, Neale Hanvey MP and Jim Eadie.
Salmond is expected to say: “In little more than two weeks, Alba has become the story of this election campaign. Indeed half of the entire press coverage of the election in the written media has featured stories about the Alba party or referenced Alba.
"And yet the BBC and STV operate as if they were in a self-isolated political bubble in which the initiative that everyone else is talking about doesn’t even appear on their radar. Not only does that involve excluding Alba from election debates but also dictates the daily mentions on all the main news bulletins. These organisations, unlike others, are effectively censoring Alba.
"The launch of our Lothian campaign is a case in point. There were over 40 photographers and journalists in attendance, including three broadcasting journalists for radio and television. However, BBC Scotland and STV were nowhere to be seen. They are simply failing in their democratic duty.”
READ MORE: This is everything you need to know about the STV leaders' debate
The statement continues: "We have asked both BBC and STV repeatedly for an explanation of their undemocratic behaviour but have not yet even received the courtesy of full detail of their proposed election coverage over the next three weeks.
"In two weeks Alba have secured a membership greater than the Liberal Democrats and more MPs than the Labour Party.
"On news interest, we are clearly the story of the election and yet the doleful duo of Scottish broadcasting pretends we don’t exist. It is long past time for BBC Scotland and STV to mend their ways and to stop distorting the democratic process in Scotland.”
STV and the BBC have justified their exclusion of Alba in the TV debates.
Facing criticism from Salmond in the past week, an STV spokesperson said its “coverage has been, and will continue to be, balanced and fully in accordance with the strict Ofcom guidelines upon which we make our editorial decisions”.
A BBC statement read: “We are looking, as we always do at this stage in an election campaign, at our plans for coverage in line with our guidelines and Ofcom’s guidance.”
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