Ahead of polls, corporation removes political posters

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation has begun removing political banners after the model code of conduct kicked in on Sunday evening. The civic officials have also ordered the removal of wall paintings with political messages. A meeting with representatives of all political parties was also held to inform them about the various rules and regulations ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
G Prakash, Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner, told TOI “We have held meetings and have instructed zonal officials to ensure that all political banners, posters and wall paintings are removed.We will closely monitor it every day. We also held a meeting and instructed all the political parties about the various rules on general conduct during the elections to ensure model code is followed,” he said.
Officials said that more than 500 locations have been identified which have political posters and paintings. They were being removed gradually. “We will get the numbers and locations every day and monitor it,” said an official.
Activists said various associations such as the auto associations and unions continue to put up posters with their political affiliation which is also a violation. V Gopalakrishnan, a civic activist, sent photographs to the officials in K K Nagar area asking them to remove the big political banners set -up near auto stands and bus stands. “General public and associations sometimes set up huge banners with photographs of political leaders in them. This should be avoided,” he said. He also added that last year, the Election Commission of India had allowed photographs of leaders who had died to be kept in government offices. “There should be clarity whether photographs of J Jayalalithaa can be removed,” he said.
Corporation officials had started removing the photographs and said they were not aware.
On Monday, G Prakash met representatives of all political parties and held meetings with the police commissioner and other election officials. “Three offices one at each constituency – North Chennai, Central Chennai and south Chennai – have been formed. Another 32 additional offices have been set up and two offices will be set up at Perambur where the byelections will be held,” as per a press release from the corporation.
In Chennai, there are 18,83,989 male voters, 19,34,078 female voters and 932 in other category. Totally, 3,754 polling booths and 76 additional polling booths will be set up. Around 24,000 officials will be deployed at these polling booths. As many as 10,791 EVMs, 5,997 additional equipment and 6,618 VVPAT machines will be used. 48 flying squads, 16 video monitoring committees have been formed.