New Delhi: Amid the Opposition's objection to the hoardings and advertisements carrying the Prime Minister's photo, the Election Commission has ordered removal of photos of all 'living political functionaries' from such hoardings in five poll-bound states. The Congress yesterday wrote to the Election Commission, demanding removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s posters on LPG scheme for the poor installed at various petrol pumps in the election bound states.
Referring to its instructions issued earlier, the poll panel has said no advertisements carrying the photo of any political functionary or projecting him or achievements of his party would be allowed. It, however, said hoardings and posters giving information to the public about the Government welfare scheme were permitted. The Election Commission 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. 'Such hoardings undoubtedly amount to their individual/ party election campaign at pubic cost,' the Commission said.
In the instructions issued on January 6 , the ECI instructed for removal or covering of advertisements /hoardings disallowed for the reasons given above. In its letter to the Election Commission, the Congress had alleged that the PM’s posters at petrol pumps in the election bound states of Punjab, UP, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand violated the model code of conduct, which has come into force following the announcement of the polls by the EC on January 4. (UNI)