Authorities defacing banners and posters of TMC in Margao on Monday
Gomantak Times
Election Commission has begun removing hoardings and posters put up by political parties across Goa as the model code of conduct has come into effect in the state.
Authorities were seen pulling down Trinamool Congress's banners and posters in Margao on Monday. Similar reports were received from different parts of South Goa.
The commission on Saturday announced one-phase voting in the state will take place on February 14. Counting of votes will take place in March, along with four other poll-bound states.
Not just hoardings, Goans who get vaccinated before the completion of the assembly elections will not have Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo on their Covid-19 vaccine certificate because of the Model Code of Conduct that has come into place.
Model Code of Conduct
The model code is a set of guidelines, issued by the ECI, for political parties, candidates, government and the party in power during elections concerning speeches, announcements, election manifestos and general conduct.
It includes restrictions of banners and posters on private properties without prior permission and stipulates that hoardings and advertisements put up at the cost of the public exchequer depicting the achievements of the party in power shall be removed forthwith by the authorities.
Highlighting the Goa prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1988, the chief electoral officer of Goa, Kunal, had said collectors are empowered to remove any such defacement. "Right now teams are in place to enforce the model code of conduct in public places from defacement of property.
"The definition of defacement includes impairing, interfering with appearance or beauty, damaging, disfiguring, spoiling r injuring in any way whatsoever and the word defaced shall be construed accordingly. The property includes any building, hut, monument, statue, water pipeline, public road, structure, wall including compound wall, trees, fence, post, pole, or any other erection, except which is specified location, and collectors are empowered to remove it. We will keep a watchful eye," Kunal told reporters.