DMs asked to remove banners & festoons with photos of PM, CM

Kolkata: The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has instructed all the District Magistrates in the state to remove banners and festoons carrying the photographs of the Chief Minister or Prime Minister, from various government buildings within the next 24 hours.

At various places in the city and districts, festoons and banners mentioning various projects of both the state government and the Centre with photographs of the Chief Minister or Prime Minister were still seen.

The election officials have started a drive to remove these, since the model code of conduct was implemented

following the notification of the polls.

The CEO's office on Friday issued directives to the DMs to remove all the banners from both government and private places under their jurisdiction. All the DMs have to submit a compliance report to the CEO's office in this regard.

Senior officials of the CEO's office on Friday held a video conference with the districts officials to take stock of the poll-preparedness a day ahead of the arrival of an ECI team in the city.

Meanwhile, the CEO's office also directed the ADG (Law and Order) to submit a list of those who have been arrested so far in the state.

The ADG has also been asked to prepare a detailed list of the people who might cause trouble in the districts during the elections.

It has also been learnt that the election officials in the state have issued directives to some districts where there have been past incidents of violence.

North Dinajpur district administrative officials have been asked to keep an eye on Chopra area of Raigunj, where a student was killed during a clash.