Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s hoardings have triggered controversy in the Coal Capital.
Leaders and workers of rival political parties alleged that the district administration is acting in a biased manner by giving permission only to the BJP for setting up hoardings in the city. They added that they would take up the issue with the Election Commission.
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Prajatantrik district spokesperson Satyendra Mishra on Wednesday said the district administration has so far not granted permission to his party to set up hoardings in the constituency. But at the same time, it has given permission to the BJP to put up Modi’s hoardings at different places, he alleged.
So far, in Dhanbad only Modi’s hoardings are visible across the constituency where elections would be held on in the third phase on April 24.
Mishra added that his party had applied to DC Prashant Kumar on March 22 for seeking permission to put up hoardings in the district, but even after 10 days any reply is yet to come.
“We had set up hoardings in Bokaro, but the district administration removed them. The irony is that the administration has not touched BJP’s hoardings,” Mishra said. He added that his party would take up the issue with the EC.
The All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) has also levelled similar charges against the district administration. Spokesman Manto Mahto alleged that his party had applied to the commission about 15 days ago, but permission has not been granted till now while the BJP has been permitted to set up hoardings at several areas in the constituency.
However, SDM-cum-assistant returning officer (ARO) Abhishek Srivastav said so far, the administration has not given permission to any political party for putting up hoardings.
The All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) has also levelled similar charges against the district administration. Spokesman Manto Mahto alleged that his party had applied to the commission about 15 days ago, but permission has not been granted till now while the BJP has been permitted to set up hoardings at several areas in the constituency.
However, SDM-cum-assistant returning officer (ARO) Abhishek Srivastav said so far, the administration has not given permission to any political party for putting up hoardings.
“A delegation of JVM(P) met me yesterday and asked why the Dhanbad administration is still sitting idle on the party letter. Permission would be given as per bookings and EC guidelines and not on the basis of demands,” Srivastav added. Meanwhile, BPJ spokesperson Sanjay Jha said his party had taken permission from the state election commission for setting up 100 hoardings. “BJP is a national party and follows guidelines,” he said.