We had asked our readers to share their views and reactions to the Election Commission's recent directive to the Uttar Pradesh government. The EC had asked the state administration to cover all statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and elephants -- the symbol of Bahujan Samaj Party -- across the state.

We received a variety of interesting responses; while some readers wanted the statues to be demolished, others felt that the EC was acting unfairly.

Here are some responses by our readers:

Rajesh Rampal: Next notification: ALL HAVE TO WEAR GLOVES - HAND IS CONGRESS SYMBOL, NO CYCLES PLEASE - SP SYMBOL, NO LOTUS FLOWERS - BJP SYMBOL.

So what if behen jee used government money to make these elephants? She has manipulated only in thousands of crores while those who manipulated lakhs of crores have gone scot-free

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Anand: Till election day, she should be forced to stand whole day and night along with her statues to learn a lesson about misusing public funds for political reasons.

In the history of democracy, there has never been such a blunt show of self-promotion using public money. Her way of working is more like that of Communists who try to push people to worship supreme leaders. She should be fined and jailed for wasting public money in the name of social justice, all the while publicly promoting her party and herself.

It is really the loss of of the taxpayers' money no matter who comes to power now, since the money has already been spent. If the new government tries to remove these statues, all the money spent will be lost.

Jat Kumar: You can cover lady Mayawati. But why the elephant? It is a nice animal, far better than Maya.

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Gyaneshwar Shastri: Why did the central government allow such glorification by the state government at the cost of Public money? Does it mean that any state can squander public money as per their will and there is no body/authority to control such menance?

Mayawati should spend that amount in improving the lives of people living below the poverty line and work towards improving the image of the State rather then glorifying herself by misuing public funds. It is an idiotic act to erect her own statues even while she is alive. What good has the CM done for the state or the country? In my view, she should be punished and the cost of putting up the statues should be recovered from her. THIS IS HEIGHT OF STUPIDITY !!

Rakesh Sharma: The EC has not acted fairly. Whereas the EC has covered the statues of Maya and her elephants, what about the names and pictures of a foolish family and its members inscribed on government buildings? What about the name of MNREGA and many such schemes that are in the names of political leaders? Who is going to remove them? Is it not fair to remove those names and pictures also?

And why not remove the name of Mahatma Gandhi? He was also a member of a political party. The foolish family still asks for votes in his name, treating it as their private property. The EC has certainly not acted impartially.

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Jaihindbandemataram: The EC is committing a blunder. Before an electiion, this type of instruction actually helps the party and it goes in favour of Mayawati. This sort of act gets so much hype and publicity. I dont understand why the EC took such a step. I smell a rat behind it.

Nationalistic Patriot: Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi's statues should be covered first.

Sanjeev Singh: Mayawati has a declared net worth of Rs 89 crore but she was a modest teacher before becoming the CM of UP. People are saying Anna Hazare is losing the battle against corruption. I think the battle has to to be fought by the people, otherwise netas like Mayawati who claim to be downtrodden Dalits but live and behave like kings will continue to rule us and keep on inaugurating their own statues and garlanding them.

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Maha bharat: In that case cars, buses etc should be taken off public places. The sun should be covered. All trees should be covered or cut off. One cannot take an elephant for a ride. What a mockery of democracy. Why does the system allow these statues to be erected?

Sanjay Reddy: Why just Mayawati's Statues? Cover every place, bridge, stations all the way up to all the numerous toilets named after Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi?

Suraj Kumar:  Everyone should be made to wear gloves or made to keep their hands in their pockets. Congress has been using human body parts as their symbol.

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MitzyMacy Dobermann: Why waste expenses on covercloth? Just break them! Get rid of the monstrosities. Voters should also get rid of her and her corrupt goonda party.

Madanmohan Siddhanthi: The statues should be destroyed for good. You cannot cover corruption and looting.

Subrata Banerjee: The Congress party has been dreaming about winning the forthcoming assembly elections in UP, which is impossible. The Congress is going to be banished from UP now.

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