Officials enforce code in full force, remove political banners, posters

Flex boards were pulled down on Palakkad Road, Mahalingapuram, Palladam Road and Coimbatore- Pollachi Road, Tiruchy Road and Avinashi Road in a day-long exercise. Many of the hoardings were those put up for the birthday celebrations of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK leader MK Stalin.

Some flex boards kept describing the achievements of the AIADMK government was also removed. In some places, members of political parties themselves volunteered to remove the hoardings.

Walls with paintings of political leaders were defaced in both city and rural areas. A similar drive was undertaken in other western districts.

In Tiruchy, highways department workers were seen whitewashing the graffiti painted near the airport. They also removed the digital banners kept in the MGR statue rounabout, Anna Nager and Thillai Nagar.

Official sources said the cleaning process would be completed in a couple of days. "However, the work is being carried out by the government departments and not by the respective political parties," the source explained, adding that expenditure for the same is being borne by the departments.

Thirty teams of flying squads have been constituted to monitor the proceedings and prevent violations, Madurai Collector and District Election Officer S. Natarajan said on Monday.

Besides, thirty static surveillance teams, ten video surveillance teams and ten video viewing teams have been formed to check the flow of unaccounted money.

"The teams are checking vehicles around the clock to precent the flow of unaccounted money ahead of the polls," the Collector said.