Cover all Maya,elephant statues: EC

The Election Commission today ordered that all statues of CM Mayawati and her party symbol the elephant installed at several public places in Uttar Pradesh must be covered until the completion of the Assembly poll process. Calenders with such photographs must also be removed from government offices.

The Election Commission today ordered that all statues of CM Mayawati and her party symbol the elephant installed at several public places in Uttar Pradesh must be covered until the completion of the Assembly poll process. Calenders with such photographs must also be removed from government offices.

These statues would be covered so that these public properties cannot be used for political mileage, said Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi,adding that government funds were used to install the statues of Mayawati and elephants. He said statues of former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi would also be covered.

Quraishi said the EC was committed towards ensuring a level playing field in the elections. He added that instructions have already been sent for removing calenders and hoardings displaying photographs of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.

Raising the issue,a petitioner had earlier approached the EC seeking appropriate steps to ensure a level playing field in the elections. Several party leaders had also demanded that the statues of Mayawati and elephants be covered during their meeting with the EC here yesterday. With the notification for the first phase of polling scheduled be issued on January 10,the statues are expected to be covered before that.

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