Ban 'Hand' shakes: EC on Congress demand to 'hide' BJP's lotus

Bhopal, Oct 30: The

on Wednesday straightaway 'rejected' the bizarre demand of the opposition

to 'hide' lotus ponds, as they could draw voters towards the ruling-

in poll-bound

.

According to reports, the EC has termed the Congress demand as impractical and unfeasible.

The MP Chief Electoral Officer, Jaideep Govind said in a press conference that these lotuses had been standing in water bodies for a long time and as such "they do not have anything to do with the elections".

Another senior official of EC said, "The Congress's reasoning that lotus ponds can swing the poll in favour of the BJP, which has 'lotus' as its poll symbol, is "ridiculous" and granting such a request would amount to undermining the intelligence of the voter."

EC has termed the Congress demand as impractical and unfeasible.

In its complaint, Congress demanded a level-playing field with the BJP and sought suitable directions to "hide all ponds" where lotus is cultivated and sold.

Reacting to the bizarre demand of the Congress, the BJP spokesperson Vishwas Sarang said, "It shows the mental bankruptcy and despondency of Congress. It means people should start covering their hands because it is the symbol of the party."

On Congress demand, BJP's senior leader Sushma Swaraj said, "There can be nothing more bewildering than this."

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Deshpande said, "How silly is the congress being. What will they do about the hand will they stop waving to people or will they cover their hands? What about the sun, the party symbol of AIADMK , will they cover the sun?"

During the autumn season, the lotus flowers bloom fully in water bodies of Mahakaushal, Malwa and Bundelkhand regions.

OneIndia News