After Mayor, Jalandhar Improvement Trust Chairperson’s banners take over city, sparking public outrage

City’s streets, once flooded with banners celebrating the election of new Mayor, are now witnessing a fresh wave of congratulatory hoardings — this time for Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) Chairperson Rajwinder Kaur Thiara. The public spaces are covered with massive posters, raising serious concerns among residents who see this as yet another example of misplaced priorities by those in power.

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Since the announcement of the municipal elections in December, the Jalandhar was transformed into a city of banners and hoardings, with public spaces becoming a battleground for political visibility. Initially, campaign posters urging residents to vote were put up across key locations. After the results were announced, these were replaced with thanks giving messages from victorious candidates. Soon after, enormous congratulatory hoardings celebrating the newly elected Mayor began to dominate the skyline. Now, another round of banners has emerged, this time congratulating Thiara for her appointment as the JIT Chairperson.

From main roads to busy intersections, the city has been plastered with these posters, creating a visual overload that many residents find excessive and unnecessary. Locations such as 66ft Road, Urban Estate, Phase II, Sky Lark Road, Company Bagh Chowk, Model Town and Ladowali Road have been taken over by hoardings, leaving little space untouched. The sheer scale of the display has led many to question whether public resources and spaces are being misused for political self-promotion rather than serving the city’s actual needs.

“What is the need for such huge banners? Everyone already knows who the JIT Chairperson is. This isn’t a celebration — it’s pollution,” said Mahima Sharma, a resident. She pointed out that though leaders promised to focus on improving civic infrastructure, yet they were adding to the city’s waste crisis.

Jalandhar generates over 500 tonnes of waste daily and garbage is overflowing from existing dumping sites. Many residents fear that these plastic hoardings will only worsen the problem of waste. “Leaders claimed they would tackle the city’s issues, but instead, they are glorifying themselves with unnecessary posters. Do they even realise how many lives this mounting garbage is affecting?” asked Kamlesh Singh, another resident.

One of the biggest concerns is complete lack of accountability in removing these banners once their purpose is served. “Most publicity materials are made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, which eventually end up in dumping grounds. There is no plan for recycling them and they continue to choke the city,” said Preeti Sachdeva, a schoolteacher. She called for stricter regulations and an outright ban on such hoardings.

Angry residents have urged the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner to intervene and take immediate action in this connection. They have demanded a ban on political hoardings and a shift toward more sustainable practices like digital campaigns and eco-friendly alternatives. “If leaders need to be congratulated, do it personally or through social media. Why should the entire city suffer for someone’s vanity?” residents asked, while pressing for urgent enforcement of waste management policies before the problem escalates further.