Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s images may soon have to be covered or removed at petrol pumps in the five States where elections will be held from February 4. Amid the Opposition’s objection to the hoardings and advertisements carrying the Prime Minister’s photo, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered removal of photos of all ‘living political functionaries’ from all hoardings and advertisements which seek to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party in five poll-bound States.
The Commission has directed chief electoral officers of these states to remove or cover photos of all living functionaries and leaders displayed on billboards and advertisements. The Commission gave these fresh directions by reiterating its instructions issued on December 12, 2004 after the chief electoral officer of Goa, Kunal raised the issue following announcement of poll schedules on January 4.
The poll panel said it was ordering the removal of such hoardings because no political functionary or political party can use public resources for their election campaign to eulogise himself or itself or enhance their leaders’ personal image. Referring to its instructions issued earlier, the poll watchdog said photos in advertisements or hoardings of similar type should also be removed or “covered suitably” so that spirit of its instructions is fully complied with. It, however, said hoardings and posters giving information to the public about the Government welfare scheme were permitted.
“However, all those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith... “...No political party or functionary can use public resources and incur or authorise expenditure from public exchequer to eulogise himself or itself or enhance his/its own or any political leader’s image,” it said. The poll panel made it clear that such images or hoardings “undoubtedly amount to their individual/party election campaign at public cost”.
The Congress on Monday wrote to the Election Commission, demanding removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s posters from petrol pumps in election bound states. In a letter to the election commission, the party alleged that the PM’s posters at petrol pumps in the election bound states of Punjab, UP, Goa and Uttarakhand violated the model code of conduct.
The Congress pointed out that the hoardings of the PM at various petrol pumps regarding distribution of cooking gas, etc., are not permissible during the operation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). “The hoardings, posters, banners of the Central government with the photograph of the Prime Minister at any places within the election-bound state cannot continue, since it is in violation of the MCC and will interfere with free and fair elections,” the letter said.
The poll panel also directed that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.
“No political party or candidate shall permit its or his followers to make use of any individual’s land, building, compound wall etc., without his permission for erecting flag-staffs, suspending banners, pasting notices and writing slogans ,” it said. . “Any social, cultural or religious organisation making appeals to electorates during the poll period amounting to in favour or against certain parties or candidates by holding meeting or procession is barred. “If it is done, these organisations are evoking religious sentiments of voters to whom such appeal is addressed,” the officer said.
Between February 4 and March 8, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur are going for Assembly polls and the Model Code of Conduct came into force on January 4 when the schedule was announced.