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Poll panel orders removal of hoardings forthwith
Tribune News Service

Workers remove a hoarding highlighting achievements of the Chautala government in Ambala on Thursday. — Photo Neeraj Chopra

New Delhi, March 18
All hoardings portraying the achievements of the governments should be removed forthwith, the Election Commission said here today.

“Any hoardings, which are put up by the parties, giving advantage to them, would attract the Model Code of Conduct. It is necessary to remove them”, a commission spokesperson told reporters.

A clarification to this effect was given by Deputy Election Commissioner Noor Mohammed after a delegation of Delhi BJP leaders complained to the poll panel that hoardings carrying the pictures of late Congress leaders still dotted the city while BJP hoardings with Prime Minister’s picture were being removed.

The commission reviewed the poll arrangements with the Delhi Chief Secretary, the Police Commissioner and other senior police officials, he said.

He said the commission would probe the charges of violation of the Model Code of Conduct against Union Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan.

The EC directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to examine the complaint by the Congress against Mr Jagmohan for “violating the Model Code of Conduct” by laying the foundation stone of a subway in his Lok Sabha constituency.

“If the complaint of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is found to be correct, the foundation stone will be removed,” he said.

Ms Dikshit met Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishna Murthy and lodged the complaint against Mr Jagmohan. According to the complaint, the Union Minister, the sitting MP from the New Delhi constituency, laid the foundation stone of a subway in Sarai Kale Khan.

However, Mr Jagmohan denied the charge levelled by Ms Dikshit.

“The complaint she made to the Election Commission on my violating the Model Code of Conduct by laying foundation stones for two underpasses in lieu of the level crossings at Sarai Kale Khan and Jangpura are absolutely wrong,” Mr Jagmohan told reporters.

“Ms Dikshit had not checked the facts before levelling allegations. Both these functions were held about a week before the elections were notified by the Election Commission on February 29,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the issue of demolition of slum clusters, over which both the ruling Congress and the BJP have locked horns, the spokesperson said the commission had decided to issue a “slip” to those who had been uprooted for exercising their franchise in the new place.

Observing that the commission was committed to protecting the voting rights of electorate, the spokesperson said the slip could be attached with the relevant Form-6, making them eligible to cast their votes.