Poster war erupts among political parties in Cuttack on New Year's Eve

On the eve of New Year, a ‘poster war’ has broken out among major political parties in Cuttack. At different important chhaks and points of the Millennium City, leaders of political parties such as Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have put up their banners and flex hoardings wishing New Year greetings to the residents. 

Huge posters and banners have been displayed by Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammed Moquim. Though Moquim has been suspended from Congress, he has dared to flaunt his connection with Congress by embossing the party’s logo in the posters and banners. 

Similarly, the BJP and BJD leaders aspiring to contest the upcoming elections have covered skylines with their posters. They have hinted that more of their hoardings will be put up at different parts of the city in the election time.

On the other hand, such posters have affected the beautification of the city. But the Cuttack Municipal Corporation is taking no action against those spoiling the beauty of the city skylines.

When contacted, vice president of the Odisha BJP, Dr Purna Chandra Mohapatra said, “The BJP has its own ideologies. First, it is mati(motherland), then the party and then the leader. The posters reflect what is important in the mind of a leader.”

BJD’s Cuttack unit president Debsish Samanatray, said that displaying posters and banners in the city is a usual act of the leaders before New Year's Day or elections. This year, more posters will be seen because of the 2024 elections. The BJD has won 28 of 32 wards in the CMC. Hence, more posters are visible in the city.”

Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammed Moquim said that as people have elected him as MLA, he has to wish the residents on various occasions and event. There is nothing unusual in it. But new leaders aspiring to fight elections are putting up hoardings all over the city to create their identities, he added.