New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday ordered all petrol pump dealers and other agencies to take away hoardings advertising central government schemes that carry images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the grounds of the facilities within 72 hours.

The use of the PM’s image in such hoardings disrupts the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the official of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated. The Model Code of Conduct came into force in four poll-bound states and UT after the ECI declared poll dates for the state in last week.

The Election Commission last Friday declared dates for the Assembly elections around 4 states and one Union Territory. While Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry will have a single-phase poll, West Bengal and Assam Assembly election shall be held in eight and three phases respectively. The counting of votes for all the elections will take place on May 2.

Meanwhile, a total of 18.68 crore people will decide the fate of 824 seats in the aforementioned four States and one Union Territory at 2.7 lakh polling stations. All serious and vulnerable polling stations have already been recognised and an adequate number of security will be deployed in such booths, ECI informed.