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Cover all statues of Mayawati, BSP symbol: Quraishi
Saturday January 07, 2012 08:36:47 PM,
IANS
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Lucknow:
In a landmark move, the Election Commission Saturday issued orders
for covering all statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati
and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) symbol the elephant till assembly
polls in the state are over.
Announcing this at a press conference here after two-day-long
deliberations with political parties and state government
officials, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said: "We
have done this to ensure a level playing field for all political
parties and to see that the ruling party does not derive any undue
political mileage though this."
"Our decision comes in the wake of demand from several political
parties," he added.
The seven-phased polls will be held from Feb 4 to 28.
On the issue of shifting of some state government officials, he
said: "We had received a number of requests from most of the
political parties to shunt officials who allegedly have a tilt
towards the ruling party, but a final decision on this count will
be taken in Delhi after a detailed examination."
Issuing a stern warning to poll officials, Quraishi said:
"Neutrality has to be maintained at all costs and anyone found
lacking on this count will be firmly dealt with by the
commission."
"We have appointed 102 election expenditure observers to keep a
close eye on poll funding through unauthorised means," he added.
To assist these observers, 403 assistant observers have also been
deployed in each of the assembly segments. These observers would
be roped in from the central revenue services.
"A total of Rs.7.5 crore unaccounted money was seized by the
checking squads from various parts of the state.
"While carrying out such drives to curb movement of unauthorised
cash, we have also told officials to see that people are not
harassed unnecessarily and those moving with genuine cash with
relevant documentary proof are not put to inconvenience," he
pointed out, adding that officials have been asked to keep a close
watch on hotels, farm houses and airports.
Expressing concern over the poor voter turnout in the state during
the previous general elections, including the 2009 Lok Sabha
polls, Quraishi said: "At some places, the voter turnout was even
less than 25 percent."
Describing this as a "matter of grave concern and not a healthy
indication", he said that the commission was in the process of
figuring out the reasons for the same to carry out remedial
measures.
"No stone will be left unturned to inculcate a sense of security
in the minds of the voters, who should know that their safety will
be ensured at all costs," he added.
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