The Election Commission on Tuesday said that all wall writing, posters, banners, hoardings showing Government achievements in any Government office or campus should be removed as the Lok Sabha elections–2019 have been announced.
Haryana Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Dr Inder Jeet said that the Commission has issued necessary directions to candidates or political parties for time to time campaigning and not to violate the Model code of conduct.
He said that it is important to remove all kinds of unauthorised political advertisements in the form of wall writing, posters, banners and hoardings at public property or public space such as bus stands, airports, railway stations, Railway Bridges, government buses, electric or telephone poles, within 48 hours. Apart from this, unauthorized political advertisements displayed at private property should be removed within 72 hours, he said.
According to the directions of the commission, all references of ministers, politicians or political parties available on Central or State Governments’ official website should be removed with immediate effect. The ministers cannot combine their official visit with electioneering work and cannot also make use of official machinery during electioneering work, he said.
He further said that public places like maidans for holding election meetings and use of helipads in connection with election should not be monopolized by the party in power. Other candidates or political parties should be allowed to these places or facilities.
In view of security, if political functionaries staying at rest houses or other government accommodations, then they cannot make use of those Government places for any election related work, he said.
From the time, elections are announced, no advertisement highlighting the government achievements can be issued in print or electronic media. No Minister or any authority can announce financial grants, lay foundation stones and make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, which may influence the voters, he added.