Flouting norms, RU polls ticket aspirants deface properties

JAIPUR: Even after strict guidelines in place, the student groups eyeing tickets to contest union polls continue to deface the public properties in the city. They have not spared any public place, including sign boards, flyovers, circles etc. The private movable and immovable properties on JLN Marg, Tonk Road and Raja Park are also facing the heat.
The worst-affected are JLN Marg and Tonk Road alongside RU and its constituent colleges.Here most of the signboards are hidden under student posters and banners causing inconvenience to commuters.
Reepunjaya Singh, professor of Urban Planning at Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration (RIPA), said, "With every passing day, I see more and more numbers of public properties being defaced by those contesting polls. The administration seemed to have turned a blind eye is a reason that they are doing it fearlessly."
Besides, signboards, the state government banners publicizing welfare schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna, Skill Development, Janani Suraksha Yojana etc were also defaced by the students groups in a desperate bid to get the visibility.
Attempts were made to deface the RU property but they administration has failed their efforts so far. "We will not allow any student to violate law. The moment we get information of defacement we pull it down," said Bhupendra Singh Shekawat, spokesperson, RU.
As the polling date is progressing, the students groups are aggressively using the publicity tools. The public transport like city buses and autos are also carrying the banners willingly and unwillingly. "I have no choice they have threatened us to not remove it until the polling day," said Subhash Kumar, a driver of a city bus on Tonk Road. Some students eyeing tickets have not spared ambulances outside the SMS hospital.
The traffic jams have become the order of the day on JLN Marg and Tonk Road. Both parties even before declaring their candidates have started approaching students in both university and private hostels.
Though the administration has crack down on some students but it has failed to deter other students. Contesting university polls is no less expensive than contesting Vidhan Sabha polls. Unconfirmed reports said that students groups have started approaching jewelers and showroom owners for donations.