MCG removes political posters from public areas

Gurugram's Municipal Corporation removed thousands of political posters and banners to enforce the Model Code of Conduct ahead of assembly elections.

Updated on: Sep 16, 2024, 06:50:04 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) launched a campaign on Sunday where they removed thousands of political posters, banners, and hoardings from key areas across the city. The activity was undertaken in the run up to the upcoming assembly elections to ensure all political parties adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Posters of candidates preparing to contest the assembly elections hang on an electricity pole at Patel Naga as of August 2024. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

MCC prohibits political hoardings and posters -- highlighting the achievements of the parties -- in public areas, ahead of the elections.

Dr Balpreet Singh, additional commissioner and the MCC nodal officer for Gurugram led the operation and emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean environment in accordance with election guidelines

MCG teams were deployed across high-traffic areas, including Old Delhi Road, Mehrauli Road, Old Railway Road, New Railway Road, Sector 12 Chowk, CRPF Chowk, and Sheetla Mata Road. Other areas, such as Palam Vihar Road, Hero Honda Chowk, Umang Bhardwaj Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Ashok Vihar, and Dharam Colony, were thoroughly inspected and cleared. Further, restricted areas near the Ordinance Depot and key intersections such as IFFCO Chowk, Basai Chowk, and Rajiv Chowk were included in the drive. Political advertisements posted on streetlights, electricity poles, and other public infrastructure were removed.

“Our teams are working to enforce the MCC and daily reports are being reviewed. It is essential that no political party uses public spaces for advertisements without permission,” Dr Singh said.

Residents have welcomed the move and many have expressed hope that the administration will continue to maintain these efforts, ensuring that no new violations occur as the election date comes nearer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More