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DIMAPUR — During elections in Nagaland, open public spaces are often found plastered with campaign materials. This includes posters, pamphlets and banners displayed on private boundary walls, public property, sidewalks, flyovers, lane dividers, electric poles, shops, and gates, among other places.
Political parties and candidates contesting elections readily use public and private property to display their campaign posters, while civil society organisations and private companies also contribute to this visual pollution with publicity and advertisement materials.
Weeks have passed since the Lok Sabha and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections were held in the state but various parts of Dimapur remain characterised by an unsightly display of torn and faded posters, banners and flags, creating an eyesore.
Shop owners in the state’s commercial hub have expressed frustration, as the pasting of campaign materials on their shops and shutters during elections have left behind a damaged and unsightly surface. They lamented that even repainting often fails to fully restore them to its original condition.
“Most of them paste the posters without taking permission, and even when they inform, it’s never to ask for consent, but only to tell us they’re doing it,” a shop owner shared with Eastern Mirror, as the recent elections have left public spaces overwhelmed with campaign clutter.
Several shopkeepers in Dimapur said that they have resorted to removing the posters themselves instead of waiting on the party workers or the candidates. They rued that seeking permission from property owners before using their walls or buildings for campaign purposes is simply not a consideration.
One shop owner, who also resides at his business premises, shared that while removing the posters, they often peel away layers of paint, damaging their property and creating an eyesore.
“The adhesive they use is so strong that even after numerous attempts to scrub it off, it doesn’t come off completely, leaving our gates and walls filthy. We should ask them for the brand of glue they use; it might be useful for us too,” the property owner remarked light-heartedly.
Another shopkeeper emphasised that beyond the visual eyesore, the poster campaign inflicts actual damage on property. “Even after we clean and clear the walls, our efforts are quickly undone as another group comes along and plasters them with more posters. This cycle will continue unless strict regulations are put in place and enforced,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, a local painter suggested that “the district administration or whoever is in charge” provides guidelines on responsible poster placement and recommend materials that can be used to avoid defacement and inconvenience to property owners.
He pointed out that the type of adhesive used and the method of removal both significantly affect the extent of damage to painted surfaces. He advised that softening the posters with water before removal, while still potentially causing some damage, can help minimise the impact on the paint.
It may be recalled that a collaborative effort was made to address this issue following the 2018 state Assembly elections. The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) had joined forces with Dimapur-based media houses, political parties, and civil society organisations to remove posters and pamphlets scattered throughout the city.
This cleanup drive had two main goals -- to give the state's commercial hub a facelift, and to discourage future poster campaigns, which not only defaces the city but also robs it of its charm.
At the time, volunteers from the DMC, Better Dimapur, Eastern Mirror, The Morung Express, Nagaland Post, various political parties, the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), Naga Council Dimapur, and the GB's Union dedicated several hours to clearing walls, shutters, and road dividers in targeted areas.
However, despite attempts to raise awareness about the negative impacts of defacing public spaces with campaign materials, the problem persists. Individuals continue to paste advertisements, pamphlets and banners on private homes, businesses, utility poles, government buildings -- essentially any available surface.