Yogesh Shastri’s (name changed) tiny house on a small street near Chamundeshwari Nagar in Mandya was akin to a rendezvous for those with political ambitions. Nonetheless, Mr. Shastri is worried ever since the Election Commission announced the dates of the general elections on Sunday.
A team of people, designated by the District Election Commission to ensure that the model code of conduct is not violated by political parties and candidates, visited his place on Tuesday and covered the image of palm on publicity boards as they bear resemblance to the Congress symbol.
Similar initiatives were taken at Ashok Nagar here and some other places in the district, and it would be extended across Mandya parliamentary constituency, said a senior Revenue Department officer.
An astrologer, however, sought to know why such a measure was being initiated only in Mandya. According to him, astrologers are a worried lot as they have been strictly instructed to cover the images of palm on their publicity boards till April 18, the polling day.
While covering the image of palm on publicity boards for six weeks would not affect frequenters, it would make astrologers lose customers who cannot read the name boards, an astrologer from K.R. Pet said.
Not only images of palm, but also those bearing resemblance to symbols of other political parties will be disfigured or covered by the authorities. Names and list of achievements put by elected representatives at public places would also be erased or covered, a senior officer said.
