West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s conduct at a polling booth in Nandigram last week is under scanner, the Election Commission has indicated, dismissing her allegations of disruption of polling at the booth.
Calling Ms Banerjee’s handwritten complaint “factually incorrect” and “devoid of substance”, the Commission said it is contemplating action under the relevant sections of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act.
Ms Banerjee has been in a collision course with the Commission since it ordered an unprecedented, marathon eight-phase election in Bengal and replaced the state police chief. She has accused it of partisanship under orders of Union Home Minister Amit Shah – an accusation the Commission has vehemently denied.
Matters came to a head last week during the election at Nandigram, the epicentre of the battle for Bengal where the Chief Minister is taking of Suvendu Adhikari – her former protege; who is now in the BJP camp.
During polling, the Chief Minister — who enjoys Z-plus security — was caught up in a tense confrontation between the BJP and Trinamool supporters and had to stay cooped up inside a room for around two hours. She was later rescued by the security forces.
Ms Banerjee had accused the Election Commission of failing to maintain law and order during elections.
Today, the Commission said Ms Banerjee’s action at the polling booth was fraught with “immense potential to have adverse effect on the law and order across West Bengal and maybe in some other states”.
“It is a matter of deep regret that a media narrative was sought to be weaved hour after hour to misguide the biggest stakeholders which is the voters by a candidate who also happens to be the honourable CM… All this was done when the election process was/is on. There could not have been a greater misdemeanour,” read the Commission’s response.
