UP Polls: EC orders to cover Mayawati's statues

New Delhi: Less than a month to go before the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission (EC) issued an order to bring down curtains on Chief Minister Mayawati's biggest public promotion campaign yet, that includes the statues of herself and the BSP's election symbol, the elephant.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi on Saturday at a Press Conference said the statues will be covered as they were built on government expenses.

"Statues being covered to ensure level playing field," said Qureshi.

Several rival parties have complained that the statues gave the BSP an undue advantage as they clearly promoted the party.

The model code of conduct states that the pictures of all candidates on public property must be covered during elections. The same logic would apply to statues as well.

Congress Spokesperson had earlier in the day commented on the issue and said, "EC takes appropriate steps at appropriate time. EC is fully alive to a situation like this."

Last year, Mayawati had inaugurated the 33-acre Dalit Prerna Sthal or the Ambedkar Park in Noida. Mayawati spent Rs 650 crore for the development of the park, which has several statutes of Dalit leaders.

The park has 24 pink sandstone elephants, 12 life-size statues of Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and the UP Chief Minister herself.

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