SHIMLA: The opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh Thursday asked the Election Commission to order removal of hoardings put up by the ruling BJP in Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency as they were in violation of its model code.

The party alleged the state government was misusing the official machinery in favour of Chief Minister P K Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur, who has been given the BJP ticket to contest the Hamirpur byelection scheduled for May 22.

State Congress spokesman Kuldeep Rathore told reporters here he has asked Electoral Officer Manisha Nanda to take immediate steps for removal of the hoardings "highlighting the achievements" of the Dhumal government.

The Congress has fielded O P Rattan and he would be filing his nomination papers on May 2, he said.