The State Congress has emerged in support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Election Commission of India (ECI) cut short campaigning in the neighboring State followed by clashes between BJP and All India Trinamool Congress workers in BJP national president Amit Shah’s Road Show in Kolkata.
State Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey and Rajesh Gupta today termed the ECI action on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah. The Congress spokespersons said, “The ECI directive cutting short campaign in West Bengal shows that the election body is tired and afraid of BJP and PM Narendra Modi. With the new directive, the ECI has lost its credibility. It appears that for EC is occupied by RSS members,” said Dubey.
The Congress leaders claimed that ECI by giving reference of Article 324, 21 and 14 of Constitution has cut short campaigning, which itself is violation of Constitution.
Dubey and Rajesh Gupta said that after violence erupted in Amit Shah rally, the ECI should have taken action against Shah but instead it is acting as a mute spectator. The two leaders claimed that if the ruling party leaders will behave in such a way then, who will protect the democracy.
The two Congress leaders claimed that by cutting short of campaigning it appears that ECI has given parting gift to Congress so that PM Modi can address his two election rallies. As per ECI directive, campaigning would end at 10 pm on Thursday instead of 5 pm on Friday because of violence during BJP president Amit Shah's road show in Kolkata.
Mamata Banerjee and other Opposition parties have accused the election body of an undemocratic and biased decision that benefitted the ruling BJP because the campaign ban would start after the PM had addressed election meetings in Bengal.
On last day of campaigning BJP star campaigner and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed two election meeting in Kolkata.
On the last day of campaigning in Bengal apart from BJP leaders, Mamata Banerjee also hold road show in support of TMC candidates.