The district administration has started a drive to remove poll campaign materials stuck to the walls of Government buildings since Tuesday last here.
The Additional District Magistrate (ADM), who is also the election officer for the forthcoming civic polls in the municipal area, has formed two squads headed by two magistrates, in the rank of tehsildar, to examine the places of display and remove the materials since they amount to breach of code of conduct.
While ADM Akashay Mohanty has asked the municipality executive officer to provide manpower as well as logistic support to remove the materials from the unauthorised sites, he has also asked the police to assist the team.
For undertaking the drive, the area has been divided ward wise, such as 1-15 and 16-31. The two teams under tehsildars Sadar Pinaki Pattnaik and Manas Padhi on the first day itself got a huge load of materials removed. The materials contained posters, banners, cut-outs and leaflets.
“Display of campaign materials in any form in the areas under Government jurisdiction is prohibited under the model code conduct. Although we in an awareness meeting had apprised all the candidates as well as concerned agencies regarding the condition, yet we found large scale violations. Therefore, the administration took the bid to remove the campaign materials,” said Padhi, adding that, “We would also remove materials if we find complaints from the private parties.”
For 31 wards under the Baleswar Municipality, 170 candidates are in the fray. The BJD while has engaged many stalwarts to supervise the campaign like Dillip Tirkey and film star Sidhhant Mohapatra, several entertainment programmes were held in different wards last evening inviting Pummy Mishra and Krishna Beura. Congress has begun its campaign, while the BJP is yet to start its drive.