The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Candidates warned against defacing walls

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Candidates warned against defacing walls

Nearly 6,719 banners and cut-outs pulled down

Fine of Rs. 2,000 for defacement of private property
Each candidate can spend up to Rs. 2 lakh for campaign

HYDERABAD: Candidates contesting the GHMC polls have been warned against defacing or disfiguring either public or private walls with banners, buntings, cut-outs, paintings, etc., as part of the political campaign.

Commissioner S.P. Singh and Special Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu told presspersons on Tuesday that the model code of conduct will be enforced strictly and enforcement teams have been constituted to ensure candidates do not violate.

Any defacement on private property without prior permission of the owner will not only attract a fine of upto Rs. 2,000 but also imprisonment which can be extended up to three months. Police officers are empowered under the law to remove, erase, pull down or destroy objectionable advertisements, they said. About 6,719 banners or cut-outs put up in violation of the conduct code have been removed.

Each contesting candidate can spend up to Rs. 2 lakh for campaign in each division. Persons with more than two children after May 1, 1995 are not eligible to contest. In case of twins, the second time after one child, a special exemption should be obtained from the government. Disqualification will also apply to any person owing monetary dues to the municipal corporation.

‘Critical’ stations

Mr. Singh said 33,975 poll personnel and 992 zonal officers will be on duty for the conduct of polls As of now 1,553 polling stations have been identified as ‘critical’ polling stations considering their past voting record. As such there will be special focus on ensuring free and a fair poll with ‘micro-observers’ and videographers recording the voting besides more police forces on the poll day.

“We will re-check the critical polling stations once again on November 12 in consultation with the city police. Vulnerable polling stations are in both old and new city,” he said. There are a total of 5,663 polling stations and 278 auxiliary polling stations and another 178 auxiliary polling stations may be required to accommodate the 2.47 lakh new voters. The 600 micro-observers will be sourced from the Central government offices.

About 7,332 control units and 12,013 ballot units of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) of State Election Commission (SEC) have been kept ready and first randomisation exercise in presence of representatives of political parties will be held on November 7. Second randomisation exercise will be held at the respective distribution centres after the ballot paper is printed .

Training for the poll personnel will be in 12 designated centres from November 10-18 while for zonal officers it will be on November 5 at four centres, they added.

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