MC ad rules go for a toss in MC polls

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 17

The city is literally being turned into a ‘hoarding mess’ with big hoardings of candidates contesting the MC polls being arranged and nailed in every nook and corner of the city.

The MC rules for advertisement have gone for a toss, as these election hoardings can be seen everywhere in the city.

In violation of the rules, hoardings have even been attached and nailed to trees at Dugri. Even footpaths have been blocked with these hoardings that are hanging from trees and fixed on railings, blocking the footpath.

Rajni Walia, who was forced to walk on the road, as the footpath was blocked, said: “It is highly ironical that not only are the candidates trying to cover every possible space in their respective wards with big hoardings, they have also encroached upon the footpath. It is unacceptable,” she said.

“The authorities concerned must not allow such blatant violation of rules,” she said.

Dr Amandeep Singh Bains from RBS Roots said it was strange that now candidates were going over the top, having hoardings everywhere. But one of the candidates had crossed the line by having hoardings nailed on roadside trees. Not a single tree on Dugri Road has been spared, he said. Even the graffiti on the flyover has been covered with hoardings. They are damaging trees for their selfish interest.

“Though candidates are writing even their qualification on the hoardings to show they are young and qualified, they are violating the rules themselves,” he said. “When potential candidates themselves are violating the rules, what expectation can be made from them to address the problems of wards,” he said, adding that such reckless electioneering is uncalled for.

Taranjit Singh, another resident of the area, said candidates must realise that just having their pictures on posters and hoardings will not help them get votes but they should meet people to tell what issues would be their priority, he added.