WB assembly polls: EC bars BJP leader Rahul Sinha from campaigning for 48 hours

The Election Commission has banned BJP’s Rahul Sinha from campaigning for 48 hours for his remarks that ’central forces had given a befitting reply’ on the killing of four people in Sitalkuhi last Saturday. The EC action came even before Sinha could give an explanation, citing “urgency of the matter.”

This was among the first set of decisions taken by the poll body since Sushil Chandra took over as Chief Election Commissioner. Highly provocative statements mocked human life, apart from inciting forces, which could have serious law and order implications and adversely affect the election process, EC said while warning Sinha from making such statements in future.

EC also served a notice to West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh for prima facie violation of the model code of conduct and provisions of the Representation of People Act and Indian Penal code for his ‘naughty boys got a befitting reply in Sitakuchi from central forces’ remark. He has till Wednesday morning to explain his remark. BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari’s ‘begum’ and ‘mini Pakistan’ comments too were found to have violated the model code of conduct. After Adhikari in his reply said that he had no intention to make offensive remarks and would be more careful in future, the poll panel let him off i with a warning and advised him to desist from such statements during the model code period.