EC's decision against natural justice: BSP

LUCKNOW: The BSP today termed the Election Commission's decision to cover all statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and her party symbol, the elephant, till the assembly election process was over in Uttar Pradesh as one-sided and against natural justice.

Reacting sharply to the decision, BSP general secretary Satish Misra said this was a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

"The EC has directed covering of the statues accepting the one-sided memorandum of anti-dalit parties like Congress, BJP and SP," he said.

The decision was "one-sided and against the natural justice," Misra told reporters here.

The Commission did not give a chance to the BSP to hear its viewpoint before passing the order, he said adding the party would take the issue before the people' court.

The Election Commission today ordered that all statues of Mayawati and elephants, installed at several places in the state, be covered until the completion of the poll process.

CEC S Y Qureshi said the directive would be implemented at the earliest as the matter was related to the model code of conduct.

The staggered assembly election in Uttar Pradesh will commence on February 4 and conclude on February 28.