“Party cannot be allowed to campaign at government expense”
As the Election Commission received reports from the Uttar Pradesh administration about the compliance of its order for draping the statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and BSP's party symbol, “the elephant,” the Commission took strong exception to the party's criticism that its order was “unjustified and one-sided.”
“How can you expect the Commission to sit as a mute spectator when you [BSP] take political advantage and campaign through such statues which have been put up at the government's expenditure? Won't it affect the level playing field and give undue advantage to the ruling party?” asked a senior Commission official, on condition of anonymity, on Thursday.
The official was reacting to BSP general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Satish Chandra Mishra's criticism of the order. Mr. Mishra had written to the Commission saying its order was in violation of the law, and sought that it be reconsidered. Mr. Mishra had even said the Commission had demoralised the party and left Dalits and backwards “cheated.” The BSP also appeared to raise questions on the Commission's intentions to hold free and fair polls in the State.
Mr. Mishra had written: “The decision is [in] violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which provides right of equality. Similar decisions should be taken against other parties also.”
The EC official said the party symbol was an elephant whether its trunk was down or raised as if to signal welcome (as in the statue put up by the BSP government). “Even if there is a gain of one vote to the BSP through such statues, it amounts to influencing the voters and we can't allow them to be set up in the public places at the government's cost.”
The official asked the party why it did not approach the Allahabad High Court challenging the order on the draping of the statues instead of sparring with the Commission through the media. “Why are they not trying to settle the issue through the legal route,” he asked.
Advocate Ravi Kant had, in his writ petition filed in the Supreme Court in 2010 seeking derecognition of the BSP and freezing of its symbol, alleged that the Mayawati government had used around Rs. 2,000 crore from the State budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10 for such projects (statues).
Keywords: UP Assembly polls, BSP charge, Election Commission response
Whilst agreeing that its wrong of the BSP to have built all these elephants at govt expense, I should say that this decision of the EC seems a little childish to me. These statues have been in the public eye for many days. By covering them for a few days, the effect will be the reverse - it won't undo the influence across the last few months, but it WILL get the BSP sympathy votes - to the common man, I think this would represent the Mayavati regime as a victim of the EC. It will also give these statues undue attention, with the same result.
Is it not against the Rules for Cabinet Ministers promising quotas
even before the particular percentage proposed is not even discussed by the Cabinet or in Parliament.Is it not breaking the rule when
security establishments and Govt facilities are misused by one party.
Is it not violation of code for dignatories are given special treatments by Govt.officials etc during their election campaigns.
Which party is Playing at HIGHER plains than others.Sorry it is quite
difficult for common man to digest the aruguements of the E.C Officials
Good job EC.
Well said Mr. anonymous officer. We need a strong EC to ensure democracy is not played with!
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