Thaindian News

Lucknow, Jan 7 (IANS) The Election Commission Saturday ordered that all statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj Party poll symbol, the elephant, in Uttar Pradesh should be covered till assembly elections in the state are over.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said the statues in Lucknow, Noida and other places should be covered so that they are not visible till the seven-phased polls — from Feb 4 to 28 — are over.

“The commission has decided that statues of the CM and elephants will be draped,” he said.

This would be implemented at the earliest as the matter was related to the model code of conduct, he said.

“The idea is that no one should get political mileage. During elections even photos of leaders put up in offices are removed,” said Quraishi, who is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound state to review its election preparedness.

The two election commissioners, V.S. Sampath and H.S. Brahma, are also accompanying Quraishi.

The issue came up during their meetings with various political parties.

The CEC said during polls even calendars bearing names of political leaders were removed.

On unaccounted cash, the CEC said till Saturday, Rs.7.5 crore unaccounted money had been seized in the state.

He said the Income Tax department has been deeply involved in checking movement of cash at airport, hotels and through hawala operators.

The poll panel is also keeping a close watch on production and sale of liquor.