EC slams Mamta's Nandigram claims, warns of action

The Election Commission of India(ECI) has indicated  the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's conduct at a polling booth in Nandigram last week and dismissed her allegations of disruption of polling at the booth. Calling Ms Banerjee's handwritten complaint "factually incorrect" and "devoid of substance", the Commission said it is contemplating action under the relevant sections of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act. During polling, the Chief Minister -- who enjoys Z-plus security -- was caught up in a tense confrontation between the BJP and Trinamool supporters and had to stay cooped up inside a room for around two hours. She was later rescued by the security forces. Ms Banerjee had accused the Election Commission of failing to maintain law and order during elections.

ECI on Sunday said that Ms Banerjee's action at the polling booth was fraught with "immense potential to have adverse effect on the law and order across West Bengal and maybe in some other states".  Commission further state that said that it is a matter of deep regret that a "media narrative was sought to be weaved hour after hour to misguide the biggest stakeholders, which is the voters, by a candidate who also happens to be CM of the state". All this was done when the election process was/is on. There could not have been a greater misdemeanour," read the Commission's response. The EC cited the reports by special observers and officials "at various levels" to say that there was "no mention of either outsiders or guns and goons capturing the said booth".

"There is no evidence at all to suggest that the BSF jawans who were deployed at the polling station, indulged in any inappropriate behaviour. Moreover, the complaint that they did not allow the voters to go inside the booth is far from the truth." the ECI said. There was no report of any violence, nor was there any intimidation of voters at the Boyal polling booth, said the EC. Relevant CCTV footage is available with the Commission to prove that there was no wrongdoing in the process, said the EC.