Karnataka - Bangalore

Buntings, posters have come up in violation of rules: JD(U)

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday alleged that the major political parties in the State have blatantly violated the provisions of the Karnataka (Prevention of) Defacement of Public Properties Act by erecting buntings, cut-outs and posters of their leaders in public places in cities and towns.

In a complaint to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) M.N. Vidyashankar, State Janata Dal (U) General Secretary G.K.C. Reddy and spokesperson Basavaraj Godachi said the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) had installed banners, buntings, posters and hoardings in public places in violation of the Act.

The authorities responsible for prevention of such acts had not taken action against the leaders of the political parties concerned, they said.

The Janata Dal (U) has urged the Chief Electoral Officer to take action against the political parties concerned for violating the provisions of the Act and demanded that the banners and hoardings be removed. It also appealed to the officer to take preventive measures to avoid such acts in future.

Political parties had told the Election Commission to enforce the model code of conduct during the run-up to the Legislative Assembly elections to be held on May 10, 16 and 22. However, the same political parties had been spending “unaccountable money” on buntings and hoardings in violation of the model code of conduct, Mr. Reddy alleged.

The Chief Electoral Officer had still not issued guidelines to be followed by the political parties during the election campaign.

Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami, on Saturday last, told the Chief Electoral Officer to issue guidelines after studying the Karnataka (Prevention of) Defacement of Public Properties Act.

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