“By illegal we mean hoardings that have been put up either without our permission or the ones that obstruct roads or lamp posts,” explained KMC Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

Dozens of hoardings of various political parties have so far been pulled down in different wards of Kankurgachi, Manicktola and Rajabazaar.

“Teams from the Kolkata police, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Municipal Returning Officers carry out the demolition work from 12 pm to 8 pm,” said Javed Samim, Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).

State Election Commissioner added: “It is against law to put up hoardings on public buildings like government schools, colleges and hospitals. So, authorised teams are inspecting the wards and removing all such hoardings.”

Adding that for private buildings, the hoardings are being removed only after a complaint is lodged by the property owner, Pandey said: “The KMC removes illegal hoardings before each election. We demolish anything which violates the model code provided by the Election Commission.”