The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In an extensive clean-up operation in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, a total of 11,682 instances of unauthorized political advertising, such as graffiti, posters, and banners, were eradicated within a 72-hour period, aligning with the model code of conduct established for the Lok Sabha elections, official figures reveal. This operation included the removal of 9,361 instances from public areas and 2,321 from private properties throughout the district, as per the data regarding the implementation of the election code, which PTI accessed.
The Election Commission mandates, as per its model code of conduct guidelines, the removal of all forms of political advertisements, including graffiti, posters, flyers, cutouts, banners, flags, and any other types of defacements on government-owned properties, within 24 hours following the election announcement. Moreover, all “unauthorized political advertisements” displayed on public properties and areas like train stations, bus depots, airports, railway overpasses, roads, government vehicles, electrical or telephone poles, and buildings owned by municipal and local authorities must be cleared within 48 hours post-announcement, the Election Commission stipulates.
Additionally, based on any applicable local laws and judicial directives, any unauthorized political ads placed on private properties are required to be taken down within 72 hours after the elections are declared, as per the election body’s rules.
From March 17 to March 19, local electoral officials in Gautam Buddh Nagar have diligently removed such unauthorized political advertisements from 9,361 public and 2,321 private locations across the district, reflecting the strict enforcement of the model code of conduct, the provided data illustrates. A breakdown of the clean-up effort shows that 6,329 instances were cleared within the first 24 hours of the model code’s activation, 10,611 within 48 hours, and a total of 11,682 within 72 hours.
“We are dedicated to fully adhering to the Election Commission’s guidelines concerning the model code of conduct in preparation for the forthcoming elections,” Additional District Magistrate Nitin Madan shared with PTI on Wednesday.
Gautam Buddh Nagar, which encompasses the adjacent cities of Noida and Greater Noida near Delhi, is scheduled for voting on April 26 during the second phase of the general elections, with 26.20 lakh voters registered. The Gautam Buddh Nagar Lok Sabha constituency includes five state assembly segments—Noida, Dadri, Jewar, Khurja, and Sikandrabad—with the latter two situated in the neighboring Bulandshahr district, and the enforcement data for the model code of conduct does not cover these two areas.