In a setback to the BJP in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India (ECI) strongly censures it’s high-profile candidate in Tamluk constituency Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his derogatory remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has debarred him from campaigning for 24 hours starting from 17.00 hrs of May 21.
In a strongly worded order, the ECI has said, “The Commission strictly warns Abhijit Gangopadhyay to remain careful in his public utterances during the currency of Model Code of Conduct.”
He only resigned as Calcutta High Court judge after announcement of Election Schedule and contesting as BJP candidate. The ECI on Friday last had issued a show-cause to Abhijit for his “improper, injudicious and undignified” remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He sent his reply on Mondayto the show-cause notice issued by the ECI for his “undignified” remark against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has fielded Gangopadhyay from the Tamluk seat in in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal where voting will be held on May 25.
The comments of Abhijit Gangopadhyay triggered a war of words between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The TMC approached the ECI with a formal complaint against Gangopadhyay in connection with a speech he made while addressing a rally in Haldia’s Chaitanyapur area on May 15. The ruling party of Bengal claimed that comments reflected the “misogynist mindset of the BJP.”
The TMC had sought a complete ban on Gangopadhyay from holding or attending any public rally or meeting and permission to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
In its notice, the ECI said Gangopadhyay’s comment has been found to be “beyond dignity in every sense of term” and “in bad taste”, and prima facie violative of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties.
Gangopadhyay was the fourth politician in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to have been served a notice for undignified remarks against women. BJP’s senior leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress’ Supriya Shrinate were censured by the poll body after being served notices for their remarks against Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut respectively.