EC removes UP top cop, Home Sec

Lucknow, Jan 8 (IBNS) The Election Commission has ordered the removal of Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Brij Lal from his post to ensure a free and fair polls in the north Indian state going to elections in seven phases in February.

The EC also ordered removal of Principal Secretary (Home) Fateh Bahadur Singh.

Reports said Atul Kumar will be the new DGP while the new home secretary will be Manjeet Singh.

The opposition had been demanding the changes owing to what they alleged is the closeness of the officials with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government of Mayawati.

Earlier, the Election Commission on Saturday ordered to cover all statues of chief minister Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) symbol elephant across the state.

"Except for Mahatma Gandhi, all photos of political leaders will be removed. There must be a level playing ground. Partiality will lead to severe consequences," said Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi Saturday.

He said all statues related to any political leader and party, including Mayawati and the ruling BSP, will be veiled as per election code.

In October, Mayawati inaugurated at Noida by the banks of Jamuna the massive Ambedkar park or the Dalit Prerna Sthal, a showpiece project that cost nearly Rs 685 crore to build over 33 acres of land.

The park hosts 12 life size statues of Baba Ambedkar and late Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Mayawati´s mentor Kanshi Ram, besides those of the chief minister herself.

A total of 24 pink sandstone elephants adorn the park.

In Uttar Pradesh (UP), polls will be held in seven stages beginning Feb 4.

The rest of the phases will be held on Feb 8, Feb 11, Feb 15, Feb 19, Feb 23, Feb 28.