NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- India's independent Election Commission has ordered that all hoardings and photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers and other political leaders be immediately removed from public places in the country's five poll-bound states.
The states -- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand in the north, Goa in the west and Manipur in the northeast -- are to go to polls from February 4. Results will be out on March 11.
"All those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith," the Election Commission said Tuesday.
This is because advertisements put up using public money to project achievements of politicians ahead of elections in a state is a clear violation of the election code of conduct, according to the powerful poll watchdog.
It, however, allowed hoardings put up by the central or state governments to convey general message to the masses on family planning or social welfare schemes.
