Hoardings, banners and publicity materials carrying photographs of political leaders, continue to hit the roads and public places in the region even as the Election Commission of India has issued strict guidelines against defacing of public places.
Meanwhile, with model code of conduct being enforced, the district election office, Almora, has given Friday evening as deadline to the representatives of different political parties for removing publicity materials from the public places. The administration further warned that the district election office will take necessary steps as per laid down guidelines if the order was being violated by the political parties.
The district administration also urged political parties to seek prior permission of the landlords for use of private properties for publicity purpose. Meanwhile, district election office, Bageshwar, also gave two days time to the representatives of different political parties to remove posters, banners and other publicity materials from the public places in Bageshwar Assembly constituency.
Issuing the order in this regard, the officials of the district election office, Bageshwar, said that despite the model code of conduct being enforced, public properties in many places of Assembly constituency were flooded with the publicity materials by the political parties. Therefore, the representatives of different political parties have been advised to remove the same within two days, it said and further warned that the amount spent for removing the publicity materials will be recovered from the respective political parties or the person in case he or she contests the elections.