NE NEWS SERVICE
KOLKATA, APR 13
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday sat on a dharna in the heart of the city to protest against the Election Commission’s “unconstitutional” decision to ban her from campaigning for 24 hours.
West Bengal assembly polls: Mamata Banerjee stages dharna to protest EC's 24-hour ban on her campaigning
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— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) April 13, 2021
Banerjee, still confined to a wheelchair owing to the injuries she sustained last month, arrived at Mayo road here around 11.40 am and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the venue.
No TMC leaders or supporters were spotted nearby.
A senior TMC leader, when approached, said, “No party leaders are allowed near the site of the protest. She is sitting there alone.”
The Election Commission has barred Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours from Monday 8 pm for her remarks against central forces and a statement which had alleged religious overtones.
Banerjee, lashing out at the poll panel, had said on Twitter that she would hold a protest against the poll panel’s “unconstitutional and undemocratic” decision.
The TMC boss is scheduled to address two rallies after 8 pm on Tuesday – one at Barasat and the other at Bidhanangar.
Meanwhile, a defence official here said that the area where Banerjee is staging a protest belongs to the army, and the TMC was yet to receive permission for the programme.
“Just to keep everyone informed, we have received an application from the TMC for a no-objection certificate at 9:40 am today. It is still under process,” the defence spokesperson said.
DMK chief Stalin supports Mamata, tells EC to be ”neutral”
The faith in our democracy rests on free and fair elections.
The Election Commission of India must ensure a level playing field for all parties and candidates and ensure that impartiality and neutrality is maintained.#MamataBanerjee
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 13, 2021
Supporting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday said the Election Commission must ensure a level playing field for all parties and maintain impartiality.
As Banerjee began a dharna in Kolkata to protest against the poll panel’s decision barring her from campaigning for 24 hours, Stalin said ”faith in our democracy rests on free and fair elections.”
In a tweet, the DMK chief said the EC “must ensure a level playing field for all parties and candidates and ensure that impartiality and neutrality is maintained. # Mamata Banerjee.” After the EC on Monday barred Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours, her party claimed that the poll panel was behaving like a ”wing of the BJP” and alleged the decision smacked of authoritarianism.
The poll panel’s order came after Banerjee’s remarks against central police forces and her statement, which allegedly had religious overtones.
