NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has asked UP Chief Minister Mayawati “to think” before criticising the EC order to cover her statues and BSP’s poll symbol in the state, in the runup to the elections.
“She is a senior leader. What can I say? She should think before making such comments,” Quraishi said, when asked about Mayawati’s criticism on the EC order. The CEC said the UP Chief Minister “should not have made the statement” as “other political parties may also demand raising pedestals in government parks for displaying their poll symbols”.
“What reply can we give then,” he asked. The CEC said the poll authority creates “a level-playing field for all political parties when elections are declared”.
“We also ask to remove photographs of chief ministers, the Prime Minister and ruling party leaders in government offices. We ask the photos to be covered if they cannot be removed,” Quraishi pointed out.