Chief Election Commisioner N Zaidi at a press meet in Kolkata.
Highlights
- Notice for allegedly violating model code of conduct in place
- She apparently promised a separate Asansol district during a public meet
- People will show cause you on results day: Ms Banerjee to poll panel
Mamata Banerjee has been served a notice by the Election Commission for allegedly violating the model code of conduct now in place in West Bengal where polls are underway. Normally, a response is needed within 48 hours but the Trinamool chief did not take that long. As soon as she heard of it one her way to a public meeting at Siuri, Birbhum district, she threw down the gauntlet.
"The election commission has show caused me. But what I said before I will say again and again. Let's see what you can do," she thundered. The EC announced the show cause at a press meet in Kolkata at 5pm. She reacted within the hour. "You have show caused me on New Year's day," said Ms Banerjee, adding, "People will show cause you on 19th May, the day the results are declared."
Ms Banerjee referred to some comment she had apparently made about "revenge". But the EC's show cause was for a comment on April 6 at a public meeting in Asansol which went to polls on 11 April. Ms Banerjee had apparently promised a separate Asansol district to be carved out of Burdwan of which it is now a part.
That was a violation of the model code of conduct, according to EC. But the Trinamool issued a statement saying, "How ludicrous! The decision to make Asansol, Kalimpong, Basirhat, Sunderbans and Jhargram into different districts was taken up in the West Bengal Cabinet in December 2015, four months ago...also discussed in Assembly. The political bias is obvious. A lot of this is cooked up by the Delhi babus. Now that they have given wrong facts shouldn't the EC ask them to clarify? Or apologise?"
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. (File photo)
Another bone of contention is Anubrata Mandal, Ms Banerjee's right hand man in Birbhum which polls on April 17. The commission warned of action against him after complaints that he has warned non-Trinamool supporters against going to cast their vote on Sunday.
"Urgent legal steps will be taken against such persons, you will get to know," CEC N Zaidi said. Hours later the EC transferred out Birbhum police chief Mukesh.
All opposition parties had complained to the EC against Mr Mandal. To which, Ms Banerjee retorted, "Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was not arrested for Nandigram and they want to arrest Anubrata? Let us see how they arrest him. And even if they do, Birbhum will remain with us."
She had earlier questioned the poll panel's decision to have six phase polls in Bengal.