UP chief minister Mayawati hit out at the Election Commission Sunday for draping her statues and called the commission’s order “one-sided” and “anti-dalit”.
Addressing the media on her 56th birthday, she admitted that in 2007 her party had given tickets to “wrong people” who tarnished the image of the party and government.
“These outsiders inducted into the party and given tickets also corrupted our cadres. (But) we have taken action against them... This time have given tickets to only those who are committed to the BSP’s ideology and have a clean image,” she said, releasing the BSP’s list of all 403 candidates.
The CM’s 56th birthday was celebrated on a low key as the BSP was cautious about not violating the model code of conduct.
Talking to reporters, the CM said whiile the BSP symbol was targeted by the EC, the park in Chandigarh with a 45-foot-high hand (Congress symbol) was left untouched; and no action was taken against the cycle (SP symbol), hand pump (RLD symbol) and the lotus (BJP symbol).
The BSP office was decorated with orchids and geraniums. Ms Mayawati was dressed in a pink brocade salwar-suit, offset with diamond jewellery. There was no cake-cutting, but plum cake slices were given to the media. She said the EC’s decision to “cover statues of elephants and those of mine next to late Kanshi Ram (was) an insult to his memory (which) dalits will never forgive”.