EC orders political parties not to use public funds for publicity

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) has said that no political party will be allowed to use public funds and government machinery to carry out activities that amount to advertisement for it. The Commission directed yesterday that no political party shall henceforth either use or allow the use of any public funds or public place or government machinery for carrying out any activity that will amount to advertisement for the party or propagating the election symbol allotted to the party. The commission also clarified that any violation of the directions will be treated as violation of a lawful direction of the Commission. The development comes following a judgement of the Delhi High Court which had in July remanded back to the poll panel a plea seeking cancellation of Bahujan Samaj Party symbol 'elephant' for alleged misuse of public funds by the erstwhile Mayawati government in installing its statues across the state.