All government advertisements in Bengaluru will soon be removed now that the Model Code of Conduct has kicked in.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, also the District Election Officer for the BBMP limits, said that photos of political leaders on BMTC buses and bus shelters will be taken down.
Photos of ministers, legislators and other leaders in websites of the civic body will also be removed.
“All kind of publicity materials of the state and Central government, including flex banners, will be removed within 24 hours as the Model Code of Conduct for the polls has kicked in already,” the BBMP Commissioner said.
He added, “Criminal cases will be booked against those using loudspeakers for election campaigns between 10 pm and 6 am. Other guidelines are also being introduced for the first time in the Karnataka polls as per EC directions. These guidelines will also have Dos and Don'ts for a voter at the polling station as well.”
"The Commission has also issued instructions for swift, effective and stringent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct during the first 72 hours of the announcement of the election schedule, and also for maintaining extra vigilance and strict enforcement action in the last 72 hours prior to the close of polls. These instructions have been issued in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for compliance by the field election machinery," the EC said.
He said that in order to facilitate smooth polling and create awareness among voters, officers on poll duty will be distributing guide to voters at their doorstep.
The guide will have details of the polling timings, contact details of booth-level officials and other necessary information.
Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat announced that the polls will be held in a single phase for all the 224 seats on May 12 (Saturday) and results will be declared on May 15 (Tuesday).
Rawat also stressed that “eco-friendly material should be used for all propaganda exercise. Use of loudspeakers will be regulated so that people can sleep at night."
The Election Commission has also chosen former Indian cricket Rahul Dravid as the brand ambassador for the elections. Noted lyricist Yogaraj Bhat will compose an election anthem for the Assembly polls.
In the 2013 polls, Congress emerged as the single largest party in the state with 121 seats, while both the BJP and JD(S) managed 40 seats each.
The result in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 saw the BJP winning 17 of the 28 seats in the state with Congress winning 9 and the JD(S) getting only two seats.