Posters, banners come up on buildings sans RO nod

Patiala, December 12

In violation of rules, political parties continue to paste stickers and put up flags on public and private properties in support of their candidates for the civic body elections. In certain localities, residents complained that official candidates came along with their supporters and pasted bills outside their houses.

During the last Assembly elections, several political parties tried to “hoodwink” the Election Commission (EC) by asking their supporters to put up banners on their personal properties. Then, the EC had acted tough against them.

However, the menace continues during the Municipal Corporation polls. 

Despite repeated warnings, political advertisements in the form of banners, hoardings and symbols are being installed on rooftops of buildings and walls.

As per rules, no private building can be used for any candidate or party’s campaign “without a written consent of the Returning Officer concerned”. Violators are penalised with Rs 500 a day. Further, the cost of the advertisement is added to the election expenditure of the candidate concerned.

However, a large number of houses have been painted with party symbols and slogans in the district. In many localities, flags of all political parties in the fray can be seen hanging on rooftops.

In the recent orders, the Election Commission said private houses putting up election-related or candidate-specific symbols would need “permission from the Returning Officer”.

The owner of a house in Gian Colony said he had put up flags and a banner of a party on his house after a request regarding it was made by the Resident Welfare Association of the area. “I did not take any permission nor has anyone objected to it,” said a cloth merchant.

“No person will be allowed to put election-related banner or material on his or her building as it would lead to violation of the model code of conduct,” said an official on poll duty. “In case the candidate or his supporters paste the stickers or banners without permission, a complaint can be lodged with the district electoral officer,” said the official, adding that political parties had already been warned against putting up any such material on private properties without permission. — TNS