New Delhi, January 17
Taking serious note of publicity hoardings on Himachal Government’s performance, put up at public expense, the Election Commission (EC) has said these are violative of the Model Code of Conduct effective in the state and directed that these be removed forthwith.
In a communication to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary, the Election Commission (EC) said complaints had been received from various sources regarding the hoardings extolling the achievements of the government and displaying statistics comparative with that of the previous governments.
“The commission has carefully examined the issue and feels that there is sufficient merit in the complaints,” the commission said.
It noted that publicity hoardings set up at government cost violated the level playing field envisioned by the Model Code of Conduct by giving an unfair advantage to the party in power.
“All such hoardings concerning the achievements of the government, erected either before or after January 11, 2003, by the state government or state or central public sector undertakings should be taken down,” it said.
The EC observed that it had become the style and character of practically most governments to go to public and highlight their achievements at Government cost, this phenomenon had to be discouraged when elections were on the anvil and the Model Code of Conduct had been put in position.
It directed the Chief Secretary to immediately send the compliance report.
SHIMLA: Mrs Manisha Nanda, Chief Electoral Officer,
