New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court is set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) on Wednesday challenging the Election Commission's January 7 order to cover statues of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati and the party symbol of elephant in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
The petitioner has argued that the elephant represents Lord Ganesha and draping its statues could hurt religious sentiments.
The Election Commission had acted after numerous political parties complained the statues gave the ruling party an upper hand in the election season. The Election Commission said the statues stood in violation of the model code and must be covered till the elections are over.
The model code of conduct states that the pictures of all candidates on public property must be covered during elections. The same logic would apply to statues as well.
Last year, Mayawati had inaugurated the 33-acre Dalit Prerna Sthal or the Ambedkar Park in Noida. Mayawati spent Rs 650 crore for the development of the park, which has several statutes of Dalit leaders.
The park has 24 pink sandstone elephants, 12 life-size statues of Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and the UP Chief Minister herself.
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