Nod for political posters on Red Ribbon train

HYDERABAD: With the Election Commission banning the display of political posters in the Red Ribbon campaign in the state where bypolls are due, the AP State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) has sought the EC’s permission to display the photographs of chief minister and other ministers on the Red Ribbon Express (RRE), which will run across the state from May 31 to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS.“The APSACS has sought permission for the display the photographs of the chief minister, health minister, primary education minister and others on the eight-coach exhibition train as the poll code has been enforced in 18 Assembly and one Parliamentary constituencies where bypolls are due on June 12,” said N Venkateswara Rao, deputy director, APSACS and RRE coordinator in AP.The EC has put a outright ban on the involvement of political leaders and display of their photographs in the RRE campaign across the country as by-elections are due in many states.Venkateswara Rao said that they sought the permission from the AP Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal to display the ministers’ photographs to make the campaign a big public event adding many attend the programme, donate blood, if politicians come to the event. “We hope that we would get permission for the involvement of public representatives in the awareness campaign,” he said. “We have passed on the request to the Election Commission of India and waiting for the reply,” Bhanwar Lal said.