As the winter session of the Maharashtra state legislature commences in Nagpur, the city's landscape has been blatantly overtaken by a surge of illegal political banners and posters. This widespread violation occurs in direct defiance of repeated directives from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court against such unauthorized displays.
NMC Drive Fails to Curb Banner Menace
The flouting of norms persists even after the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued strict instructions to all its ten zones for immediate removal and launched a special drive on Sunday. A senior NMC official conducted a detailed inspection across zones that are perennial trouble spots during the legislative session, specifically noting the Dharampeth and Laxmi Nagar zones where illegal political hoardings were mushrooming rapidly.
The official stated that zonal offices began removing the illegal installations from Sunday morning, with the drive set to continue. "We have also written to the police stations to take appropriate action against people who have installed the hoardings," the official said. He emphasized that as per the latest High Court directions, police are also supposed to take suo moto action against offenders, and the NMC has informed them accordingly. The official clarified that while the NMC's role is removal, the police can register FIRs against the violators.
Key Areas Submerged in Political Propaganda
During a visit on Sunday, prominent locations across the city were found plastered with banners. The illegal displays have prominently sprung up along:
- The entire Wardha Road stretch, including the double-decker flyover.
- The vicinity of Vidhan Bhavan and MLA Hostel.
- Areas around Ravi Bhavan and other roads in Civil Lines.
These installations have taken over several key junctions that are typically under stricter surveillance during the session period. The practice is an annual ritual, where political workers erect welcome banners as ministers, MLAs, MLCs, and elected representatives from across Maharashtra converge on Nagpur.
Public Frustration and Call for Accountability
Local residents have expressed deep frustration over this recurring issue, which sees little effective deterrence. A resident from Civil Lines highlighted the cyclical nature of the problem, stating that banners appear at almost every junction each year. "The NMC does not take action, and even if it does, the banners resurface again," the local said. They pointedly added that it is the duty of the lawmakers themselves to give clear directions to their party workers to refrain from putting up illegal hoardings and to set a public example.
The situation presents a stark contradiction where the very lawmakers assembling to govern are welcomed through means that openly violate judicial orders, raising serious questions about enforcement and political will.
