ECI bans Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours

April 12: The Election Commission banned West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee from campaigning in West Bengal for 24 hours for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The ECI has banned her from campaigning for assembly elections till 8 pm on April 13 for her alleged remarks with communal overtones.

In Cooch Behar, she made “highly objectionable remarks” on the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), said the election body. In another notice, the Chief Minister was accused of “openly demanding votes on communal grounds” while campaigning in Hooghly district on April 3. Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien took to social media and wrote, “EC stands for Extremely Compromised.” In another tweet, he wrote, “April 12. BLACK DAY in our democracy.”

April 12.

BLACK DAY in our democracy.

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) April 12, 2021