According to information, a letter was sent to the office of Maharashtra state election commissioner JS Saharia last week, over the issue, which seems to be a cause of discomfort for several parties in Mumbai.
Even as the dates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls are yet to be announced, a bitter war on posters has erupted between political parties.
The 2017 civic polls will yet again feature all of the usual factors that both intrigue and annoy in equal measure — door-to-door canvassing, party manifestos, unrealistic party promises, policy U-turns, political pledges, media campaigns and, of course, election posters.
Alleging unparalleled dominance by bigger parties, including the Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), several smaller political caucuses have demanded "equitable distribution" of posters in every ward of the city.
According to information, a letter was sent to the office of Maharashtra state election commissioner JS Saharia last week, over the issue, which seems to be a cause of discomfort for several parties in Mumbai.
"Some parties have asked whether the state election commission can employ the rule of equitable distribution of posters in Mumbai ahead of the civic polls. They (political parties) have expressed their discontentment over the stronger ones snatching away prime spots and areas in the city, brandishing their own candidates," a senior state government official said.
The unique demand — equitable poster distribution — pressed for by the parties stems from the whole psychological reasoning and alleged effects of how political advertising manipulates and helps reap electoral success.
Parties are battling and will continue to battle to cash in on the recognition factor with the voters ahead of the polls.
The theory goes that the more frequently the voter sees the faces of prospective candidates, the better they will recognise them on polling day and form positive feelings towards them.
Calling the demand "illogical", opposition leader Pravin Chheda ridiculed the proposal. "This has no sense. How can there be an equitable distribution system of posters in wards. Every corporator carries out poster campaigns based on his/her strengths. They also pay for the posters," Chheda said, while rubbishing the division of big and small parties in the civic polls.
"If a party is small, then how can it contest for all the 227 seats?" questioned Chheda.
Samajwadi Party group leader Rais Shaikh, on the other hand, commended the demand, calling it an equal opportunity for all. "This is very welcoming. Equitable distribution of posters in every ward will give every candidate from all contesting parties an equal opportunity," he added.
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