Congress requests EC to remove hoardings of PM Modi in five poll bound states

The Congress Party on Monday wrote to the Election Commission requesting them to remove all the hoardings or posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the five poll bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur in order to ensure free and fair elections.

Drawing the attention of the Election Commission towards the massive hoardings fixed at various petrol pumps stations regarding distribution of cooking gas etc., the Congress party in their letter said that such advertisements are not permissible during the operation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

"I understand that the Commission has ordered for removal of the posters, banners and advertisements in these states issued by the State Government with the photograph of Chief Minister or any other persons. The hoardings, posters, banners of the Central government with the photograph of the Prime Minister at any places within the election bound state cannot continue, since it is in violation of the MCC and will interfere with free and fair elections," the letter said.

With the announcement of dates of assembly elections in the five states, the Election Commission has implemented the Model Code of Conduct in all the polls bound states with immediate effect.

There will be seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, two-phase polling in Manipur and one-phase polling each in the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa respectively.

The counting of votes in all the five states will take place on March 11.