CEC to decide on erecting election banners, hoardings in Goa soon

Panaji, May 14 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) may take a final decision in two or three days, as to whether the ban on display of banners and hoardings for the June 2 elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly should continue or not.

Election Commissioner Dr S Y Quraishi today told mediapersons that the Congress had renewed its plea to lift the ban on display of banners and hoardings in the elections.

The party is against pasting of election posters as it would disfigure public and private properties and may result in a public outcry. Other parties are however, in favour of their total ban.

He said, ''display of these traditional election materials would be a nuisance and cause law and order problems, besides disfiguring the beauty of Goa.'' He suggested candidates should make use of other modes of campaign including electronic, internet and multi-media tools.

Dr Quraishi, who had earlier reviewed the election arrangements with all political parties and the bureaucrats, including chief secretary J P Singh and director general of police R S Brar, said, ''he was satisfied with the preparedness of the State as the machinery was fully geared to meet any situation.'' If the CEC allows hoardings to be erected, they will have to be erected away from the main roads in notified and in conjunction with the Goa Public Properties Defacement Act, he said.

Asked about the progress of the investigation into BJP's complaint against Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane for allegedly abusing his official residence by holding a meeting of village sarpanches with election promises, he said the matter was being inquired.

''Concerned authorities had served a show cause notice to the Chief Minister to offer an explantion over the allegation. Nobody is above law and none would be spared if they violate the model code of conduct, which allows zero tolerance,'' Dr Quraishi said.

He said the EC office, ''as of now'' sticks to its decision to allow voters to carry the Election Photo Identity Card compulsorily for exercising their franchise.

It may allow other relevant documents like ration cards if the election authorities here fail to cover 85 per cent of the voters with the EPIC by the month end. As of now, the coverage is about 75 per cent, he added.

UNI