EC rejects Cong demand to hide lotus ponds in MP

‘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,’  said a senior EC official. ‘Going by that argument, even handshakes should be banned as it could be interpreted as an act meant to disturb the level-playing field in favour of the Congress, which holds the ‘hand’ as poll symbol,’ he added.