Lucknow: Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Saturday said all statues of chief minister Mayawati and elephants, election symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party, will be covered ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. TOI had reported on Friday that the Election Commission was pondering over this decision. Though an official order in this regard is still awaited, Quraishi confirmed it would be issued soon.
The CEC also said that though he had only received complaints about statutes of the CM and her party’s symbol giving BSP an undue advantage, the EC would also ensure that statues of all political figures affiliated to parties were covered.
The bulk of the statues, in Lucknow, Noida and other places, will remain covered till the seven-phase polls are over.
Mayawati is the only leader to order her own statues to be built, and they tower beside those of Gautam Buddha and B R Ambedkar during her five-year rule. BSP had claimed the statues were built to honour the wish of Maya’s mentor, Kanshi Ram.
On a two-day visit to UP, Quraishi met representatives of political parties andadministrative officials of the UP government. He said: “The Commission is doing everything to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. We have taken into account the complaints made by the political parties. We have also warned officials that neutrality under all circumstances is non-negotiable.”
Though official word on the transfer of key UP government officials is still awaited, the CEC said all political parties who met him on Friday did apprehend partisan behaviour of some senior UP government officials towards the Mayawati government.
Key among the names cited by the parties were those of Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, Director General of Police Brijlal and Principal Secretary Home, Kunwar Fateh Bahadur. Qureshi added, “We have taken note of all complaints. After we return to Delhi and assess the charges, the decision in this regard will be notified.”
The CEC also said that though he had only received complaints about statutes of the CM and her party’s symbol giving BSP an undue advantage, the EC would also ensure that statues of all political figures affiliated to parties were covered.
The bulk of the statues, in Lucknow, Noida and other places, will remain covered till the seven-phase polls are over.
Mayawati is the only leader to order her own statues to be built, and they tower beside those of Gautam Buddha and B R Ambedkar during her five-year rule. BSP had claimed the statues were built to honour the wish of Maya’s mentor, Kanshi Ram.
On a two-day visit to UP, Quraishi met representatives of political parties andadministrative officials of the UP government. He said: “The Commission is doing everything to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. We have taken into account the complaints made by the political parties. We have also warned officials that neutrality under all circumstances is non-negotiable.”
Though official word on the transfer of key UP government officials is still awaited, the CEC said all political parties who met him on Friday did apprehend partisan behaviour of some senior UP government officials towards the Mayawati government.
Key among the names cited by the parties were those of Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, Director General of Police Brijlal and Principal Secretary Home, Kunwar Fateh Bahadur. Qureshi added, “We have taken note of all complaints. After we return to Delhi and assess the charges, the decision in this regard will be notified.”
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