Rahul's gone, but not his posters

Even 48 hours after Rahul Gandhi's departure from the city, the banners put up to welcome him all across the city are yet to be removed. While authorities claim that many illegal banners have been taken down, hoardings were still found along the Western Express Highway (WEH) between the international airport at Santacruz, Kalanagar junction on Mahim Causeway and St Michael's Church in Mahim.

Banners welcoming Gandhi are still up on the road leading to Tilak Bhavan, two days after his departure. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi

Of the 950 banners put up, only about 70 were legal. On Sunday, MiD DAY took a round along the WEH to learn that while some illegal banners had been removed, nearly 50 posters were still up on the road leading to Tilak Bhavan.

What's worse is that neither the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) nor Congress workers seem to be taking any initiative to remove these posters. When contacted, Bhagwan Sathe, licence superintendent (BMC), said, "The big hoardings are permitted. Around 450 illegal banners have been removed and the remaining will be taken down tomorrow, as today, being Sunday, is a holiday. If they are not taken down, action will be taken against the ward inspector."

Rahul Gandhi had arrived in the city from Delhi on Friday to attend a party meeting at Tilak Bhavan. Around 950 banners were put up to welcome the Congress Vice-President. Every single pole on the way from the international airport to Kalanagar was plastered with these posters. However, two days later, nearly 15 large and 36 small and medium-sized posters still remain on the narrow lane that houses Tilak Bhavan in Dadar.