Election Commission defends move to cover Mayawati & elephants statues, says its not anti-casteist

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has defended its order to cover statues of Mayawati and elephants in UP and lashed out at the chief minister for attributing anti-casteist motives to its January 8 directive.

Rejecting BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra's plea that EC reconsider its decision as the statues were erected with "party funds," the poll panel, in a strongly-worded statement, said "the order is in accordance with the law and in keeping with its constitutional mandate for ensuring level playing field during the elections with the objective of ensuring free and fair polls.

The commission reminded BSP about a complaint it received in 2009 seeking freezing of the elephant symbol on account of its misuse through erection of elephant statues across the state.

"The commission, in its order of 11 October, 2010, while not accepting the request, had made it clear that at the time of elections, the commission would take appropriate measures to see that the statues do not disturb the level playing field," it said. "Looking from whatever rules, facts and reasoning, the step to cover the statues was the most appropriate and available option before the Commission."

Taking exception to Mayawati's critical remarks against EC, the commission said it was truly disturbed that she had attributed anti-Dalit and casteist motives to the order. "The commission regrets that such an allegation was made and rejects the allegation. It expects a higher sense of responsibility and constitutional decorum from major political parties and their leaders."

EC rejected BSP's contention that it had violated Article 14 of the Constitution providing for right to equality. It cited its standing instructions against displaying photos of the prime minister, chief ministers, ministers and other political functionaries active in public life, in government buildings during elections. "The statues depicting any party symbol and put up in public places at the cost of public money would also come in this category," it noted.

The panel further clarified that its cover-up order only related to statues of living leaders of political parties who are still active in politics and not leaders of the past. "That is why statues of several icons including that of Kanshi Ram as well as of other parties have not been ordered to be covered," it pointed out.

Rejecting the contention that the statues of elephants as erected are different from the election symbol of BSP, the Election Commission's statement argued that if that were to be the case, other political parties would be in a position to seek allotment of the elephant symbol in different postures.