CEO Tells CS To Remove Photos Of Political Leaders From Public Places

An Indian ragpicker collects reusable garbage in front of an election hoarding displaying the image of Chief Minister of the western state of Gujarat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi for the forthcoming general election, in Allahabad on March 26, 2014. AFP PHOTO/SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP PHOTO / Sanjay Kanojia

Bhubaneswar: Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar has asked chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi to begin the process of removing photos of political leaders from public places within 24 hours of the enforcement of the model code of conduct.

The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the schedule for Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections any time now.

The CEO, in a letter to the chief secretary, asked him to identify photos of all political leaders at public places, government offices and websites and prepare a database.

Apart from this, he also directed the chief secretary to ask all department heads to engage a nodal officer each at the state, district, sub-division, block and gram panchayat level to remove photos of all political leaders within 24 hours of enforcement of the model code of conduct.

Similar instructions have also been given to municipal commissioners and executive officers of the municipality and the Notified Area Councils.