Election Commission's decision comes on slew of complaints from Opposition
The statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and of elephant, the symbol of her Bahujan Samaj Party, which dot the numerous parks and memorials built by the government in Lucknow and Noida, will be covered before the seven-phase Assembly elections begin in the State on February 4.
The expenditure incurred on account of the exercise will be borne by the State government, the Election Commission ruled on Saturday, the second and last day of its visit to the State.
The Opposition parties had demanded that these statues be draped before the elections, arguing that they would give the ruling party an undue advantage.
Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said the decision would ensure a level playing field for all candidates. The statues were public property, he said, but political mileage could be drawn from it.
Mr. Quraishi said the statues of the former Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, would be also be covered. Even the photographs of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister printed on calendars were to be covered. However, the statues of Mahatma Gandhi would be spared. “Mahatma Gandhi is not contesting the elections, and he does not belong to any party.”
At its meetings with eight parties on Friday, the Election Commission received many complaints about the misuse of authority by officers considered close to the ruling party.
Comments:
Iam not holding a brief for Mayawati. But I feel, when the Election Commission orders Mayawati's statues to be covered, it should ensure that the statues of Congress leaders and leaders of other parties, dead and living, if any, in those States going to the polls also are covered.
Dear Mr Quraishi, the CEC please ask your officers to issue an order asking people not to use bicycles cause it would give an advantage to the SP, the temples, where deities are blessing with right hand, should be closed because it would give advantage to the Congress and to cover all the portraits of Gods and Goddesses seated on Lotus; also all public parks should weed out the lotus flowers from their ponds as they give an advantage to the BJP. The list is endless Mr Quraishi...
It would have been helpful had he also indicated what this silly idea will cost the taxpayers. The simple fact is that all those statues have been there for a long time, and will only gain new and humorous prominence when covered under sheets.
I am not a supporter of Mayawati.But then by the same argument, all the statues of the Gandhi Nehru family must also be covered. Again the election symbol of the Congress party (the Hand) is present everywhere and even in the polling booths. What can the Election commission do about this symbol. They must cancel this symbol for the congress party and ask them to take some animal-may be a HORSE- so that the congress can race the country to a super power status,
One cannot but wonder whether merely covering up the statues during the phase of election process will have any impact on the voters, especially their choice! The better option would be to utilize the election phase to permanently uninstall multiple statues of politicians, which give an obnoxious feeling, permanently.This applies not only to UP but all over the country. Further, it would be better to impose a statutory limit on the number of statues of a leader and by a party that could be installed in a city / town.
the E.C. has stated that the Statues of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in U.P.will also be covered during the forthcoming Assembly Elections, but sparing those of Mahatma Gandhi as he does not contest the election!!!! This explanation will only please Mayavathi and not the general public as Dead People cannot also contest!!!! Mr. E.C.Please wake up!!!!
Will elephants in UP be covered with purdahs? DMK has the rising sun and AIADMK the two leaves as symbols. What will be done to cover these symbols? Is the EC succumbing to unreasonable demands from opposition?
Central govt should not allow any party to construct any park or any memorials with the money of people . If these parties are claiming that they have built this with their own money c.govt should take criminal case against them. People are dying with starving . Why are they not using these money for these poor people? Voters should take care while they are giving votes. You should know that all these people are coming to power by giving flase promise in their manifesto.So discard these political parites from the arena with your valuable votes.
How abt. my comments sent to you earlier on covering the statues of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as ordered by E.C. in UP during the forthcoming Elections? It will only satisfy Mayavathy and not the public.Mr.E.C.has exempted this operation on Mahatma Gandhi's statues saying that "he is not going to contest the elections" as if Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi are going to contest!!!!Wake up,E.C.Sir.
Hope the Election Commission doesn't make itself a laughing stock in the process!! Just imagine if what they say today for the statues,they start applying for the names too tomorrow. What picture we will have during a national election!! The names of most of the airports,buildings,Hospitals (imagine yourselves, what else!!)in the Country whould be covered by a thick blanket!! IS IT VIABLE?? anything which crosses the limit will cease functioning as it should be, hope Election Commission keeps it in mind.
This is first time in the nation covering status by election commission but long back congress government using national flog as congress symbol and all over the nation congress leaders status are there but their status not covering, only mayawati status & her symbol covering is not good. Rules & Regulations should be equal to all
Political Parties have fooled Election Commission which has given the foolish ever decision to cover all statues in a park a blunder in history ever. Can we expect election commission to cover all lotus, hands, and cycles too.........cmon Election commission for the& sake of the beauties of the park.........and we people of INDIA are not that foolish to influence by statues.........well still we will vote for BSP it has done good job in UP.
The directive of EC is biased and one-sided. If EC is really impartial,
it should also order covering up the statues of Nehru, Indira and Rajiv
in whose name votes are solicited by Congress Party. It also should
call for covering of all clocks in public places as 'clock' is NCP's
election symbol. By issuing such unjust order, the EC is only creating
sympathy wave for Mayavati and BSP. All parties must demand the EC also
should be brought under Lokpal so that it can be prevented from working
in favour of ruling party.
Most of our politicians enter politics become rich and do nothing to the welfare of the country and feel proud to erect their statues everywhere. But there was one English Gentleman named Benny cook who sold his property in England to build a dam in South India. There is a lesson for every politician to learn from Benny Cook's generosity. His statue must be erected in front of the Parliament and all other state assemblies.