New Delhi: In an unprecedented move and in the aftermath of violence in Kolkata on Tuesday, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday cut down campaigning time in West Bengal for the final phase of voting in Lok Sabha election 2019 by 24 hours.
TMC and BJP supporters had clashed in the capital city of West Bengal towards the end of Amit Shah’s roadshow here. Acts of violence and arson had been witnessed with both parties blaming each other for it.
Taking strong objection to this, the EC invoked Article 324 and took the decision to restrict campaigning time in the nine parliamentary seats in West Bengal – – Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, South and North Kolkata. There would be no campaigning in the state from 10pm on Thursday. Campaigning was previously scheduled to end at 5pm on Thursday with voting on Sunday.
The EC also said it is extremely disappointed at the anarchic scenes on Kolkata’s streets on Tuesday and removed ADG CID Rajeev Kumar and Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya. Rajeev Kumar will have to report to MHA on Wednesday.
Source: Zee News