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CPI welcomes ban on publicity material

Special Correspondent

`There is no need for EC to review the order'

PANAJI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has backed the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ban the display of publicity material in the Goa Assembly elections to save defacement of public property.

A.B. Bardhan, general secretary of CPI, who was in Goa on Tuesday to campaign for the four candidates of the Left party alliance contesting the Assembly elections, said:

"We are a party which thinks it is best that things such as posters, hoardings and banners are not allowed." and went on to add, "Goa is a small place, there is no reason to deface it."

Referring to a statement made by Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi here on Monday over the issue, Mr. Bardhan said, "We are not happy that the EC has said it will review the order, there is no need for a review."

The Congress Party, in a representation submitted to Mr. Qureshi during his Goa visit on Monday, had opposed the ban and demanded a "reasonable relaxation" in this regard while the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa had welcomed the Election Commission's order. Mr. Bardhan went on to argue that without all these things, elections in larger States such as Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh "had gone on fairly well".

The CPI leader said a curb on such things would lead to reduction of money-power and reduction in cost of elections, which have been supported by Left parties.

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