Opp delegation, led by Cong’s Singhvi, calls on Election Commission
A united Opposition on Thursday came out in support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the Election Commission’s decision to cut short campaigning by 20 hours in the State in the aftermath of clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP workers during Amit Shah’s roadshow on Tuesday evening.
A delegation of the Opposition leaders, led by Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, took up the issue with the EC.
Opposition leaders in the delegation — Singhvi, BSP chief Mayawati, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK chief MK Stalin, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi — questioned the logic behind EC’s decision to cut short campaigning. They asked what prevented the poll body from stopping the election campaigning immediately.
In first such action in India’s electoral history, the EC had on Wednesday ordered campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, a day before its scheduled deadline, following violence between BJP and TMC workers in Kolkata during a roadshow by BJP chief Amit Shah.
Earlier, Mayawati came out in support of Mamata Banerjee. “Election Commission has banned campaigning in West Bengal, but from 10 pm today just because the PM has two rallies during the day. When they had to put a ban why not from morning? This is unfair. the EC is acting under pressure,” the BSP chief said.
Mayawati added, “It is clear that PM Modi, Amit Shah, and their leaders are targeting Mamata Banerjee. This is planned targeting. This is a very dangerous and unjust trend and one which doesn’t suit the PM of the country.”
The Congress too accused the EC of losing its credibility and independence and said time has come to review the process of the poll panel’s appointment. Asking whether the model code of conduct had become the “Modi code of misconduct”, Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the EC order curtailing campaigning in Bengal by 20 hours is a “dark spot” on India’s democracy and institutions like the Election Commission.
“It appears the Election Commission’s action is a parting gift” to Modi and the BJP to ensure Modi’s two pre-announced election rallies in Mathurapur and Dum Dum on Thursday are not hit, Surjewala alleged.
Kejriwal said the people of the State will give a befitting reply to the “perpetrators of violence and hooliganism”.
Chandrababu Naidu too threw his weight behind Mamata. “It is disturbing to see prompt action by the ECI on a complaint by the BJP and Amit Shah in Bengal, while conveniently ignoring the complaints of TMC,” Naidu tweeted.
Saying that it is high time that the poll panel acts on complaints by the Opposition, Naidu said, “Giving clean chit to Narendra Modi, taking unjustified prompt action after false complaints by BJP, wilful inaction on genuine complaints by Opposition parties clearly raise doubts about the neutrality, impartiality, and fairness of the ECI.”
Accusing the EC of going against all norms of democratic fair play, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “The EC’s decision to curtail campaigning in Bengal is against all norms of democratic fair play. I fully support @MamataOfficial ji in her fight to stop the undemocratic march of the two and a half men who have used and abused every institution of our country for their own gain.”
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury asked if the poll body had set the time to allow Modi to address two rallies in Bengal in the afternoon.
“If a ban is intended for 72 hours, why is it starting at 10 pm tomorrow? Is it to allow the two rallies of the Prime Minister before that?” Yechury tweeted.
DMK president MK Stalin tweeted, “Ban on campaign in nine constituencies in #WestBengal. The EC has one set of rules for the Opposition and another for the ruling party. Highly condemnable.”
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also hit out at the Election Commission and asked campaigning was cut short only in West Bengal. “Why only West Bengal, natural justice & fair play demands it should have been for entire 7th Phase why only West Bengal, why not for Eastern UP,” Owaisi said.
The West Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday thanked Opposition leaders, who came out in her support as she protested against the Election Commission’s decision.
“Thanks and gratitude to @Mayawati, @yadavakhilesh, @INCIndia, @ncbn and others for expressing solidarity and support to us and the people of #Bengal. EC’s biased actions under the directions of the #BJP are a direct attack on democracy. People will give a befitting reply,” Mamata tweeted.
