Illegal Posters Flood Pune Streets Following Assembly Elections

Following the Assembly elections, Pune City is flooded with illegal hoardings and banners of victorious candidates without seeking permission from the civic body. The rampant violation has encroached on the footpaths and is causing inconvenience to residents. Some residents also complained that these banners and posters have become an eyesore.

Namrata Singh, a college student, said, "We understand that BJP has won the elections, but why are there so many posters all around the city? Already, the city is covered with numerous job posters and commercial posters, but the BJP victory posters have surpassed all other posters and hoardings, adding to the city's visual clutter."

The Bombay High Court on November 18 ordered that no unauthorised hoardings, boards, banners, posters, flags, or wall posters should be put up in the city after the election results are announced. The directive applies to all public spaces within the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which has been tasked with enforcing the law. The order aims to prevent the illegal defacement of public property and ensure that election-related advertising is regulated according to the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and local municipal rules.

Illegal hoardings could be seen in Karve Nagar, Parvati, Sinhgad Road area, Jangali Maharaj Road, near Pune Railway Station and several other locations.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, a PMC official said the civic body is taking action against illegal hoardings and posters, and this action will be further intensified in the coming days.

However, Udaya Joshi, a resident of Shivajinagar, said, "If PMC is taking action against illegal posters of the winning political parties, then why is the city flooded with posters? On every street and every corner, you see these posters of congratulations and celebrations. If a party has won the elections, it must serve the people and maintain and follow law and order. These politicians should be held accountable, and the civic body should ensure that these posters are removed."

Commenting on this, Madhukar Musale, BJP spokesperson, said, "The party workers are excited about the win and have therefore put up these posters and banners. We have taken permission, and they are not placed illegally."