The Election Commission of India on Tuesday censured former Calcutta high court judge and BJP’s candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay over personal attacks on West Bengal Chief minister Mamta Bannerjee. Thus, violating the model code of Conduct.
Further, the poll body also debarred BJP’s Tamluk candidate from campaigning for 24 hours starting from 5 pm today. And also warned him to be careful in future during the period of Model Code of Conduct.
Earlier, addressing a public meeting in Haldia on May 15, Gangopadhyay made an alleged personal attack on WB CM and spoke
“Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is Rs10 lakh, why? Because you’re getting your make-up done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes.” said Abhijit Gangopadhyay in Bengali.
Later, ECI taking the cognizance of the case, declared, that it is beyond reasonable doubt, that Gangopadhyay has made a “low-level personal attack”, Thus violating MCC code.
Condemning the statement, ECI said, “The Commission…finds Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s statement a direct affront on the “erosion of status of women in India”; such statement that is outrightly condemnable when used in respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position.”
After that, ECI had sent the show-cause notice to the former calcutta judge, seeking response from Gangopadhyay by 5 pm on May 20.
In its notice, it has declared, Gangopadhyay comments have been made in bad taste, and is found to be “beyond dignity in every sense of term”