Followingthe Kolkata violence on Tuesday, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday nightcurtailed campaigning in West Bengal. Following the decision of the EC, thecampaigning for the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections will end at10 PM tonight.
Meanwhile,the EC's decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition on Thursday. TrinamoolCongress chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slammed the EC and termed itsdecision as unfair and unethical. Mamata questioned why the poll panel waited24 hours to impose the electioneering restrictions and allowed PM Modi tofinish his two rallies before the campaign ban.
Similarly,BSP chief Mayawati accused the EC of "acting under pressure". She said thatMamata Banerjee was targeted by PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah in a "plannedmanner". "Election Commission has banned campaigning in West Bengal, but from10 pm today just because PM has two rallies in the day. If they had to ban thenwhy not from today morning? This is unfair and EC is acting under pressure,"said Mayawati.
On the other hand, the Congress said the EC gave up its integrity and now "takes orders from BJP HQ". "The order of EC with respect to Bengal is an unpardonable betrayal of the Constitution," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
