The Bahujan Samaj Party is livid after the Election Commission decided to cover up all statues of Mayawati to deny any advantage whatsoever. The party says the move is anti-Dalit.
Everybody must have seen the curious sight of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati unveiling her own statue in Lucknow in 2009. On Saturday, the Election Commission – in a first of sorts – ordered all her statues to be covered up, along with her party symbol, the elephant. The reason – it violates the Model Code of Conduct by giving undue advantage to the BSP.
However, the BSP isn’t taking that order lying down. They say the elephants installed in various parks and memorials across the state are not the party symbol, since their trunks are folded up in a salute and are not drooping down.
BSP leader SC Mishra asked, “Will the EC pull down statues of the Gandhi and Nehru family as well? Will it stop cycles on the road?”
The BSP is also taking on the Election Comission for removing 2 Dalit officials close to Mayawati – DG Police Brij Lal and Principal Secretary Home Fateh Bahadur from their posts. They are calling the move anti-Dalit.
Opposition parties in the state have started celebrations. That may be a bit premature. Mayawati’s statue building spree may be seen as whimsical by many but the fact is that it caters to her core Dalit vote, which makes up 21 percent of the total 12.58 crore voters in the state.
Operation Cover Up is something she is certain to take political advantage of in the days ahead.
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