No poll posters on public or pvt property: EC

As elections draw closer and parties prepare to campaign aggressively, sticking posters at public and private places has been banned. This ban has been imposed according to the directive of Election Commission of India (ECI). 

“As per the directions of ECI, political parties and their contestants have been banned from putting up posters or displaying banners on private and public property. Displaying hoardings and banners in government or quasi government-owned properties is also banned unless charged and paid for,” said the directive issued by Anita Karwal, chief electoral officer, Gujarat.

The directive also asserts provision of equal opportunity to display hoardings on selected sites. There cannot be a monopoly on displaying sites which are chargeable and rented to various people. Further, parties and contestants are instructed to provide accounts of money spent on sites where they pay rent or charges as per the prevailing rate, rule and law.

The directive advises parties and contestants not to use harmful, provocative material for campaigning during the elections. The rule will also cover prevailing rules, laws and directions of local court, as the case may be, for display of material in the hoardings, posters and banners.