NEW DELHI: The
Election Commission on Wednesday issued a notice to West Bengal chief minister
Mamata
Banerjee over a recent speech where she had allegedly appealed to minority voters not to split their vote among different political parties.
Calling her statement — made during a speech at Tarakeshwar in Hooghly on April 3 — as a violation of Section 123 of Representation of the People Act (corrupt practices/promoting enmity along communal lines for furthering prospects of election of a candidate) and several provisions of the model code, the poll panel asked
Banerjee
to explain her remarks within 48 hours of receipt of the EC notice.
The BJP had on April 3 complained to EC alleging that Banerjee, a contesting candidate from 210-Nandigram AC, had during a speech in Hooghly, telecast on TV channel ABP Ananda, appealed to the Muslim voters not to let their vote be split among different political parties.
As per transcript of her speech sent to EC by chief electoral officer of West Bengal, Banerjee, while mentioning scholarships given to university students, mentioned Shikshashree for SC/ST, Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for general category and Aikyashree “for my brothers and sisters belonging to the minority community”.
“I have given it to 2.35 crore beneficiaries. I am requesting my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands don't divide the minority votes after listening to the devil (Shaitaan) person who has taken money from the BJP," she said.
The EC notice cited model code provision that requires criticism of political parties to be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work, and not extend to personal lives of leaders/candidates or be based on unverified allegation. Another provision debars appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Also, EC drew attention to MCC provision that states that all parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are "corrupt practices” and offences under the election law such as bribing and intimidation of voters.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. ...
Read MoreBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.
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