May 21st 2024.
The Election Commission recently took action against Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former judge of the Calcutta High Court who is also a BJP candidate, for making a controversial comment about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The commission censured Gangopadhyay and barred him from campaigning for 24 hours. In addition, the poll panel requested BJP president JP Nadda to remind all party candidates and campaigners to avoid similar misconduct during the campaign period.
The Election Commission deemed Gangopadhyay's remark as a "low-level personal attack" and a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The commission also cautioned Gangopadhyay, who is running for the Tamluk constituency, to be more careful with his public statements during the campaign. The poll body expressed disappointment that such "abominable words" came from someone with Gangopadhyay's educational and professional background and stated that he should not be given the benefit of the doubt.
Gangopadhyay had sent a reply to the show-cause notice issued by the EC for his "undignified" remark against Banerjee. However, after carefully reviewing the contents of his response and considering his statement, the commission was convinced that he had indeed made a personal attack and violated the MCC. As a result, the EC strongly censured Gangopadhyay and barred him from campaigning for 24 hours, starting from 5 pm on May 21.
The Election Commission also reminded political leaders that according to the MCC, they should stick to criticizing other parties' policies, past record, and work and refrain from making personal attacks or commenting on their private lives. The commission emphasized that unverified allegations or distorted information should also be avoided.
The EC's action came in response to a complaint filed by the Trinamool Congress against Gangopadhyay for his remarks about Banerjee at a public meeting held on May 15 in Haldia. In addition to taking action against Gangopadhyay, the commission also advised Nadda to issue an advisory to all party candidates and campaigners to ensure that such misconduct does not happen again during the campaign.
BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accepted the EC's decision but also questioned why the poll panel did not take any action when the Prime Minister and other BJP leaders were verbally attacked by opposition leaders. He urged the ECI to be more vigilant and suggested that they consult an ENT specialist, jokingly referencing the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi.
Bhattacharya also clarified that the Trinamool Congress had misrepresented the situation to the EC and that Gangopadhyay, being a highly educated person, would never insult a woman. Gangopadhyay had joined the BJP on March 7, shortly after resigning as a judge of the Calcutta High Court.
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