People's Democracy

HIMACHAL PRADESH

 

CPI(M) Protests Partisan Behaviour

 

THROUGH a letter directed to the chief electoral officer (CEO) of  Himachal Pradesh in Shimla, by its member, Balbir Prasher, the Shimla district committee of the CPI(M) has protested against the denial of space for putting up its banners and boards, meted out to the party by the Municipal Corporation (MC) of Shimla. It has come to the party’s notice that the Municipal Corporation of Shimla has not given any permission to the political parties to instal their banners and boards etc, even while it given sites and spaces to the advertisers. As per the modal code of conduct, the political parties must take prior permission from the competent authority to instal their banners and boards in public places. But in this regard the MC commissioner has been making false statements that the BJP, the Congress and the Trinamul Congress have taken prior permission for the purpose.

 

As for the CPI(M), the Shimla district committee of the party applied on October 20 for the permission for putting up its posters at the earmarked sites, and its application was addressed to the commissioner of the MC. But the commissioner had not given it the permission till the time we go to press. It has come to the notice of the party that the commissioner and the district election officer (DEO) of Shimla are out to deny the party members their right to put up the party flags even on their houses. The reason these dignitaries are giving is that flags cannot be put up on a house without the permission of concerned ROs or DEO. But at the same times the MC commissioner and the DEO Shimla have not got removed the flags, banners, boards, posters and other election materials of the others political parties, especially those of the BJP whose posters, flags, banners and boards can be seen along all the roads within the MC limits and outside. This shows how these officials are acting in a partial manner.

 

Therefore the Shimla district committee of the CPI(M) has urged the CEO of Himachal Pradesh to take proper action in this regard and immediately relieve both these officials from their election related responsibilities.