Tiruchi Corporation starts removing of political posters as poll code kicks in

With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections coming into force on Sunday evening, the Tiruchi City Corporation has begun removing political wall posters, banners, and graffiti across the city.

As part of the enforcement of the code, photographs of the Chief Minister, elected representatives, and other political leaders were removed from the Collectorate, Corporation offices and other government buildings in the district within 24 hours. Statues of political leaders have been covered.

Political banners, wall posters, and flags displayed on private institutions, bus stops, underbridges, and other public places are being removed. Advertisements of political parties, their symbols, and graffiti are whitewashed, while commemorative plaques across the city have been masked.

Advertisements displayed on boards installed at 25 designated locations across the five zones of the city, to enable advertisers and organisations to put up posters in approved spaces, are being removed.

Separate teams have been formed to remove wall posters and banners and to whitewash graffiti and political symbols across the city. Over 100 workers have been deployed in each zone for the work. Officials said the drive would be completed within two days of the Model Code of Conduct coming into force.

The Corporation recently procured a lift-mounted truck fitted with a hydraulic system to remove flex banners installed on medians and poles. The vehicle is being used to safely dismantle banners placed at elevated locations such as medians, electric poles, and high structures.

Officials added that monitoring teams have been formed to ensure that fresh political posters or banners are not put up in violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the election period.