The Delhi state election commission has directed the Arvind Kejriwal government and the municipal corporations to remove the word ‘Aam’ from all bill boards, hoardings, name plates and banners in Aam Aadmi mohalla clinics and Aam Aadmi Byepass Express Service in the Capital as the model code of conduct is already in force for civic polls on April 22.
The order came in the wake of a complaint lodged by Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition at the Delhi legislative assembly, to the poll body last week.
“The nomenclature of the clinics and bus service named after the Aam Aadmi Party is sure to influence the mind of the voters in favour of the ruling party,” Gupta wrote in his letter to the state election commission.
The Delhi government runs around 150 Mohalla Clinics in various parts of the city. The Byepass Bus Service also covers large parts of the city.
The poll panel shot a letter to chief secretary MM Kutty and the three municipal commissioners on Tuesday directing them to either remove or cover the word ‘Aam’ from all forms of display in government offices and services.
The model code of conduct came into force on March 14, soon after civic elections were declared. The same will remain in force till the declaration of results on April 25.
The letter written by the deputy secretary of the state election commission has also directed the chief secretary and the three commissioners to submit a compliance report of the action taken within 48 hours.
Earlier, during assembly elections in UP, the Election Commission of India had directed the UP government to cover the word ‘Samajwadi’ written on 1488 ambulances under the Samajwadi Swasthya Seva initiative.
In 2012, the ECI had issued similar orders asking authorities to cover elephant statues – election symbol of the then ruling BSP – installed in Dalit memorials and parks.
