Bengal Elections: Mamata Banned From Campaigning For 24 Hours

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) on Monday imposed a 24-hour campaigning ban on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for violating the ‘Model Code of Conduct and Representation of the People Act 1951’.

The order will be effective from 8 pm on April 12 to 8 pm April 13.

The EC said in its order that Mamata made “highly insinuating and provocative remarks laden with the serious potential of the breakdown of law and order,” which would be adversely affecting the ongoing West Bengal assembly election process.

The BJP had complained against Mamata’s comment, during an election rally last week, asking the Muslim community not to divide their votes.

Describing the EC order as ‘undemocratic and unconstitutional’, Mamata said she will protest by sitting on a dharna at Gandhi Murti in Kolkata from 12 noon on Tuesday.

To protest against the undemocratic and unconstitutional decision of the Election Commission of India, I will sit on dharna tomorrow at Gandhi Murti, Kolkata from 12 noon.

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 12, 2021

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien termed EC’s move as a “Black Day in our democracy.”

Another TMC leader Firhad Hakim said EC now means “extremely compromised.”

Assembly elections in West Bengal are being conducted in eight phases, of which four have been completed.