People will 'showcause' EC on May 19: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

SURI, WB: Reacting sharply to the Election Commission's showcause notice, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today dared the poll body to take action against her and said the people of the state will "showcause" it on May 19, when the election results will be out.

"Just heard that they (EC) have showcaused me because I had said I will see inch by inch. I have said what I liked, I will again say so, thousand times, crore times, do whatever you (EC) can against me," she said at an election rally here soon after the Chief Election Commissioner said the TMC supremo has been showcaused for her promise of creating a new district of Asansol and other remarks.

Banerjee, however, claimed that the EC showcaused her for her comments that she would take on the rival parties after the elections.

"What will you do against me? You have transferred my officer, will you transfer me to Delhi? If you bury me here, I will resurface in Delhi. I will react vigorously if you intimidate me," the TMC chief said.

"They (EC) have showcaused me on the very first day of the Bengali New Year, the people will showcause them on May 19," a visibly irritated Banerjee said.

However, when asked after the meeting whether she would reply to the showcause notice, the Chief Minister said, "I have not yet received the letter. My party will decide what to do."

Banerjee also stood by Birbhum district TMC president Anubrata Mondal, against whom the EC has threatened to take legal action, saying, "They (EC) want Anubrata to be arrested and not Salim (CPI-M MP) and Sujan (CPI-M candidate from Jadavpur Assembly constituency).

"Buddha (former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) will be not be arrested in the Nandigram case. They will only say, go and arrest Anubrata."