The Election Commission of India has imposed a 24-hour ban on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for violation of provisions of Model Code of Conduct and sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Election Commission of India on Monday imposed a ban from "campaigning in any manner" from 8 pm of April 12 till 8 pm of April 13. The order comes amid Mamata's alleged remarks with communal overtones.
Last week, Election Commission had issued another notice to CM Mamata Banerjee over her
remarks on April 3, where she appealed to the Muslim voters to not let
their vote get split among different political parties contesting in the assembly elections.
The Election Commission had asked the chief
minister to explain within 48 hours after receiving the
notice, failing which EC shall "take a decision without further
reference".
Earlier "The commission criticizes statements such as critical legislation and problems across the country (regions) and warned Mamata Banerjee and advises him not to use such statements in public speaking during the Model Code of Conduct.
Responding to ECI's announcement regarding his statement urging Muslim voters not to allow their vote to be divided, Banerjee said She did not want to influence voters to vote for him in religious structures; rather "I have spoken out loud in favor of religious harmony in accordance with the spirit of the Code of Conduct and the Constitution of India".
Responding to a second statement from the body of the polls involving the central forces, Mamata said she had called only voters, especially female voters, to protest (democratically by gherao) if and when someone (including CAPF) creates any ban on voting.
The BJP has also approached the Electoral Commission seeking action for the head of the TMC alleging that she had violated the People's Act by asking Muslims to come together and vote for his party TMC in the national elections. A delegation of BJP leaders, including Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the party's national secretary Sunil Deodhar, and its leader GVL Narasimha Rao, met with senior voting officials and submitted a memorandum calling for action against Mamata Banerjee and his party.
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