Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal's images on hoardings to be removed post SC order

NEW DELHI: The larger-than-life images of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on hoardings asking people to use the anti-corruption helpline 1031 across Delhi will soon vanish. Welcoming the Supreme Court directive to ban media advertisements containing photos of chief ministers, ministers and functionaries of ruling political parties, Delhi government is ready to comply with the order and will bring down all such hoardings.

Soon after the SC order, a Delhi government spokesperson said this was a small beginning and must eventually extend to all advertisements issued by political parties. He pointed out that to replace Kejriwal's image used in advertisements as a measure to reach out to the masses with government's message, officials will now work on using some powerful symbols and depictions.

Secretary in-charge of directorate of information and publicity, SS Yadav told TOI that the government would comply with the order. He informed that the advertisement campaign at authorized outdoor sites linked to the anti-graft helpline in its current avatar with the CM's photo was given to the advertising agency for one month and that period is now over. "Officially our 1031 campaign period is over. For the new phase we will plan the campaigns as per the SC directive," Yadav said. He cautioned that often the site managing agencies don't remove advertisements after the official period lapses till they get fresh advertisements.

A senior AAP member told TOI that the party has, over the last one year, discussed a lot on the use of photographs. In the earlier 49-day rule of Aam Aadmi Party much was discussed on setting up norms to not have photographs of politicians on government advertisements. However, after the government resigned the matter was never raised again.

This time, the government went all out to make Kejriwal its brand ambassador. Now all this will change. AAP members feel the SC directive will give the government a chance to innovate new ways to connect with masses through advertisements.