ECI Issues Notices To Bengal BJP Chief Over ‘Misleading’ Ads, Censures TMC Leader For ‘Threatening’ Remarks

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The ECI issued show-cause notices to BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar for misleading advertisements and censured TMC leader Humayun Kabir for threatening voters.

File Photo of West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar

Source : PTI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday issued two separate show-cause notices to West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar for allegedly misleading advertisements targeting the state's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The poll watchdog has sought his response by 5 pm on May 21, questioning why the two advertisements should not be treated as violations of the model code of conduct and its advisory to political parties.

According to the English transcript provided in the notices, one advertisement is titled "Trinamool is Root Cause of Corruption" while the other is titled "Anti-Sanatan Trinamool." The TMC had approached the Election Commission against these advertisements. 

In its notice, the poll watchdog reminded the BJP leader about the provisions of the model code of conduct, which prohibits criticism based on unverified allegations, and reiterated its recent advisory that unverified and misleading advertisements should not be published in the media.

Reacting to the EC's show-cause notice, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar told news agency ANI, "I have not received the show-cause notice. I will give the response to the show-cause notice after seeing it. But, I think ECI should be a little impartial. Mamata Banerjee is hurling abuses in her rallies but she is not getting any show-cause notice though we complained... She should not be given relaxation just because she is CM."

#WATCH | On EC's showcause notice to him, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar says, "I have not received the showcause notice. I will give the response to the showcause notice after seeing it. But, I think ECI should be a little impartial. Mamata Banerjee is hurling abuses in… https://t.co/fG6f8gXXyF pic.twitter.com/SOyo5cJ0hK

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

ECI Censures TMC's Humayun Kabir For ‘Threatening’ Rivals, Voters

In a separate development, the Election Commission censured TMC leader Humayun Kabir for allegedly threatening voters and rival party workers with statements based on religious lines.

During a speech in the Kazipara area of West Bengal's Murshidabad district, Kabir had reportedly threatened voters and workers of rival parties.

"How many beans make five? (koto dhane koto chal hoy) I will give up politics if I fail to drown you in the Bhagirathi River. I will leave Shaktipur for ever. Have you seen the five legs of an elephant? (It's an idiom which means you are boasting too much). If you think that 30 percent people reside in Murshidabad and you constitute the 70 percent ... if you think as you constitute the major chunk of population in Kamnagar so you are entitled to demolish the mosque in Kajipara and the Muslim brethren in rest of the area will sit idle you are mistaken. I am warning BJP that it won't happen ever," Kabir was quoted as saying by the ECI statement.

Kabir, in his response to a show-cause notice issued to him, defended his remarks, claiming they were taken out of context to appear as threats and a violation of the model code of conduct, the release reported. The ECI, however, determined that his remarks sought to create a religious divide, thereby violating the provisions of the model code of conduct. The commission stated it was convinced of his misconduct and strongly condemned and censured him.