'Stop using defence staff pics in poll campaigns'

The Election Commission has asked all political parties to refrain from using pictures of defence personnel in advertisements, posters, banners, leaflets and other campaign materials to seek votes.

The poll-panel issued the advisory in the wake of the controversy over the use of the picture of the army chief Gen Vikram Singh on a poster issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party during the campaigning for the recent elections in Madhya Pradesh.

The Election Commission called upon all the political parties to advise their candidates and leaders to “desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel or photographs of functions involving defence personnel in advertisements, or otherwise as part of their election propaganda or campaigning.”