Uncover statues of Mayawati, elephants: EC to UP government

The Election Commission on Saturday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to uncover statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and of elephants, the Bahujan Samaj Party's poll symbol, in the state.

"The EC secretary has written a letter to the UP chief secretary stating that the statues draped following its January 7 order should be uncovered forthwith," said UP Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha.

The EC had said the statues should be uncovered as the poll process was over in the state.

Immediately after receiving the EC's order, UP Chief Secretary Anup Mishra had sent directives to district authorities in this regard.

The EC's order was effective with immediate effect, Mishra said.

On January 7, the EC had said that statues of Mayawati and elephants installed at various places in the state should be veiled during the seven-phased assembly election.

The Election Commission had on January 7 ordered draping of statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and her party's symbol elephants, which are installed at a number of places in the state, during the assembly polls.

"The commission has decided that statues of CM and elephants (poll symbol of BSP) would be draped," Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi had told reporters in Lucknow.

He had said that the issue was related to the Model Code of Conduct and would be implemented at the earliest.

"The idea is that there should be no political mileage. During elections, even photos of leaders put up in offices are removed, it is an old stricture," the CEC said.

The CEC had said that during elections, even calendars bearing the name of any political leader are removed.

"This is an attempt to maintain the balance," he had said.