CHENNAI: The political party graffiti and posters present around the streets and lanes of the city, even after the TN assembly election is over, have become a concern. Moreover, the defacing has become persistent, damaging the walls and streets.
The boundary walls of Bharathi Women’s College on Prakasam Salai are filled with posters of political parties for which prior permission of the administration was not sought.
Near the MC Raja social justice hostel in Saidapet, the walls have been plastered with large banner posters. The places specified under open to public view include private or public buildings, walls, fences and places which are visible to the people, and these cannot be damaged under the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959.
All posters in the Royapuram zone are being actively removed as part of ground efforts, claimed the Zonal officer weavers
"The graffiti of parties cut across lines in several places in the city has nothing new to provide for the public. Rather, the only purpose it serves is to register leaders in every individual's mind through visual association," said RB Shabarieesvar, a college student and resident of Broadway.
He added,“ If there is a white wall, people will not notice, but when there are posters or graffiti present, people will automatically tend to observe them.”
In various places, cadre members, with the support of the local politicians, are involved in painting murals, graffiti and posters on the walls of private buildings, eventually defacing properties.
Walls on Ibrahim Sahib Street are filled with political leaders and party names. Alongside, the wall belonging to the Southern Railway Printing Press is connected with Electric Loco Shed Royapuram (SR). “Most of the pasted posters on the walls are often torn off by individuals. As the party people set up banners during the election period, the livelihood of the street vendors is severely impacted," stated J Gokulakrishnan, a daily commuter and a resident of Royapuram.
When contacted, the Royapuram zonal officer said, “As part of our ground clearance efforts, we are actively removing all posters in the zone. Soon, the inconvenience caused will be sorted out.”