• Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images

    A worker stands under covered elephant statues at the Ambedkar Park on Jan. 11 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

    Why are these elephant statues under wraps in India?

    It's not the latest Christo exhibit, but a matter of political fairness, according to India's Election Commission. The commission ordered the covering up of these statues, the symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party, ahead of next month's elections in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

    The commission believes the visibility of the statues and dozens of others may sway voters, and create an un-level playing field. Mayawati, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, has constructed huge public parks in Noida and in the state capital of Lucknow over her 5 years in power. The parks are strewn with statues of herself, other historical figures and also of the Bahujan Samaj Party's symbol, the elephant.

    See more pictures on PhotoBlog and read more in the story: India Mayawati statues covered up before deadline

  • Indian election officials order cover-up of statues ahead of poll

    Tsering Topgyal / AP

    Workers prepare to cover a statue of Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, at Ambedkar Park in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, on Jan. 10, 2012.

    Manan Vatsyayana / AFP - Getty Images

    Workers wrap elephant statues at the Ambedkar Park in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, on Jan. 10, 2012. Statues of a firebrand Indian politician, Mayawati, and her party symbol of an elephant were wrapped in cloth, under laws to prevent them being used as unfair election publicity.

    The Associated Press reports from LUCKNOW, India:

    Workmen using truckloads of cloth raced Monday to comply with election officials who ordered a flamboyant Indian state leader to cover up a dozen large statues she erected of herself.

    The Election Commission said the statues of Mayawati, who is a hero to India's lowest castes, were built using public money and their display violates rules for next month's election in her Uttar Pradesh state.

    The Election Commission also said that nearly 200 statues of elephants, her party's symbol, must be covered. Read the full story.