Mamata criticises Election Commission’s decision

Mincing no words against Election Commission’s (EC) decision that campaigning in West Bengal will end at 10 pm on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that EC’s decision was taken at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Ami Shah. She also expressed her displeasure over the EC’s decision of removing the state’s Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya and ADG CID Rajeev Kumar.

“An emergency situation has occurred due to some decisions of the Election Commission. I don’t think it is the Election Commission’s decision but the decision of BJP, decision of Modi and Amit Shah,” said Banerjee at a late night press conference.

Referring to Shah’s press conference in Delhi earlier in the day where he accused the EC of not acting against Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) alleged misdeeds in Bengal the Chief Minister asked whether EC’s decision was an outcome of the BJP’s president’s veiled threat to the organisation.

“Today (Wednesday) morning Amit Shah addressed a press conference and threatened the Election Commission. Is it (EC’s latest decisions) an outcome of that? Just because Shah threatened them EC will give whatever order he wants?” said Banerjee.

Questioning the EC’s decision further the Chief Minister asked why did it did not show cause Shah for creating a riot-like situation in Kolkata during his road show.

“After Iaswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s statue was broken instead of taking action the Election Commission rewarded Modi and Shah,” said Banerjee.

“This is an unprecedented decision. Article 324 cannot be used because there is no law and order problem here. Yesterday’s problem was because of Amit Shah,” she added.

The Chief Minister also asked whether the decision to end campaigning in West Bengal after 10 pm on Thursday taken because the Prime Minister has two rallies in the state on Thursday.

“Is it a democratic decision? Unconstitutional, unprecedented, unfair, unethical and a politically biased decision. I have never seen such an Election Commission. All RSS men are being included in the Election Commission,” said Banerjee.