New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday asked the Centre and state governments to immediately remove all unauthorised political posters from government, public, and private properties, including railway stations, bus stands, and airports.

The commission also asked them to submit a compliance report regarding this by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

After the announcement of Lok Sabha Elections and Assembly Elections in four states, the Election Commission issued directions for effective enforcement of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Chief Electoral Officers, the Commission said that even after issuing a direction to ensure strict compliance with its instructions regarding the removal of defacement from government, public, and private property,.

"The Election Commission has been receiving complaints from various quarters alleging that unauthorised political advertisements are still being displayed in many places across the country.

“It has taken a serious note of the non-compliance or partial compliance of its instructions and hereby directs all State and UT Governments to immediately remove all unauthorised political advertisements and ensure full compliance with the aforesaid instructions,” the commission said.

It directed states and central government to remove all unauthorised political advertisements such as wall writings, posters, papers, or defacement in any other form, including cutouts, hoardings, banner flags, etc., within a time-bound manner from public spaces like railway stations, bus stands, airports, railway bridges, roads, government buses, electric or telephone poles, municipal or local bodies' buildings, etc.

(With UNI inputs)