Covers come off elephant statues

Lucknow: In the high-pitched claims and counter-claims battle that UP elections 2012 is, Chief Minister Mayawati could well say next that even the Gods are with her. For what the Election Commission (EC) doth do, a strong breeze can undo.

Five of Ms Mayawati's giant stone elephants at the Ambedkar memorial park in Lucknow stood this morning without the pink covers that have encased them ever since electioneering began in UP. The Lucknow District Magistrate Anil Sagar explained that a strong breeze across the capital city seemed to be the culprit. The park is situated on the banks of the Gomti river, where the breeze is stronger than in other parts of Lucknow. The official promised that the elephants would be clothed again soon.

The EC had ordered all statues of Mayawati and other Dalit leaders and the elephants, which are a symbol of her party the BSP, at such parks to be covered during the UP elections to ensure, it said, that the ruling party did not have a political advantage.

Ms Mayawati was deeply saddened and while her administration followed orders and covered the massive structures in acres of cloth in pink, the CM's favourite colour, she promptly sought to make political capital by playing it as a matter of Dalit prestige in the polls.