Names of political leaders on signposts put BBMP in a fix

Road signboards, an essential ingredient of town planning, have become a bane to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as the name of the area elected representative and contact numbers painted below the signages amount to violation of election code of conduct.

The model code of conduct, which has taken effect across the State in view of the May 5 Assembly elections, mandates the removal of all material advertising politicians and political parties. Being the nodal agency in Bangalore to ensure free and fair polls, the BBMP is now in a fix over the signboards as it can neither remove them nor keep them the way they are.

The Palike initially thought of repainting the signboards but the choice of colour cropped up as a fresh dilemma. Since most of the political parties or their offshoots have affiliated themselves with one colour or the other, the Palike was wary it may end up advertising them. The city fathers are also pondering over covering the signboards with stickers carrying messages for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

At a press conference to brief the BBMP's preparedness to conduct free and fair elections in all the 28 Assembly constituencies of Bangalore, including Anekal, Palike commissioner Siddaiah said the Palike has launched an extensive drive to remove all election campaign materials from public places. To ensure removal of political advertisements, the Palike has deployed “prahari” teams in all the zones of the City.

“So far, we have removed about 6,000 banners, posters, buntings and other advertisement materials,” said Siddaiah. “A fund of Rs 200 crore released by the State government for the smooth conduct of Assembly elections in Karnataka will be utilised for this purpose.”