Political hoardings continue to dominate city skyline in violation of poll norms

Hyderabad: An inspection of the city and its roads on Tuesday revealed that billboards, posters and hoardings carrying images of politicians were not being removed even a day after the model code of conduct for the upcoming Assembly elections was enforced.

Checks conducted by Deccan Chronicle found that walls across the city are painted with political slogans, with one such stretch from Chilkalguda to the Secunderabad railway station.

The GHMC headquarters premises have hoardings of BRS leaders and unions, as per the check on Tuesday, with officials given 48 hours to clear them.
Further, it was found that billboards and promotional advertisements carrying images of the Chief Minister and health minister were not removed from government hospitals and urban health centres.

Metro Rail pillars and trains continued to be covered in advertisements and messages of political colour till Tuesday evening.

HMRL and HAML managing director N.V.S. Reddy said, “Most of the advertisements which fall under the election code are being pulled out. By Wednesday, we will be clearing all those which are in the stations as well as in trains. We have instructed our officers. They are on this from the time of code implementation.”

He said, “We also caution people against pasting posters illegally on the properties of the Metro Rail, especially on the pillars. The election commission will take serious action on the violators.”

A South Central Railways official said, “All advertisement which fall under the election commission’s protocol will be removed or covered within Telangana region, as SCR covers various states.”