13 December,2010 07:55 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) put up a 61-feet poster at Sahakarnagar to celebrate the birthday of its National Deputy President Gopinath Munde. But it remains to be seen if it is a violation or not.
With Congress President Sonia Gandhi's birthday on December 10, NCP President Sharad Pawar and BJP's Gopinath Munde's birthdays on December 12, the city saw more than its fair share of political hoardings over the last few days.
"The idea is to pay a tribute to our leader on his birthday and so we decided to put up a 61-feet hoarding for Munde," said Shrinath Bhimale, former BJP corporator. None of the party workers could explain whether the PMC norms were adhered to or not. "The birthday poster has been put up next to the existing one. And I am not aware if any permission is required to put up these hoardings," said Vandana Bhimale, present BJP corporator.
Ramesh Shelar, head of Anti-Encroachment Cell, PMC, said, "Bhimale did not take any permission from me. If he contacted the Sahakarnagar ward office, nothing has come to me. I have to verify if they have taken an NOC from local traffic police. I will take action if it is illegal and also check if they have taken an NOC from local traffic police. I am fully aware of the present hoarding menace in the city and action will be taken on all political parties who are violating the basic rules of putting up hoardings across the city."
