The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Calcutta): The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday censured Abhijit Gangopadhyay, former Calcutta High Court judge and BJP candidate, for his controversial remarks about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. As a result, Gangopadhyay is prohibited from campaigning for 24 hours.
The EC’s order also directed BJP president JP Nadda to issue an advisory to all party candidates and campaigners to prevent similar lapses in the future. The poll panel described Gangopadhyay’s remark as a “low-level personal attack,” violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Gangopadhyay, who is the BJP candidate for Tamluk, was warned to exercise caution in his public statements during the campaign. The EC expressed its disappointment, noting that such offensive words came from someone with Gangopadhyay’s educational and professional background, thereby not warranting any benefit of doubt.
In response to a show-cause notice from the EC regarding his “undignified” remarks against Banerjee, Gangopadhyay sent a reply on Monday. The EC reviewed his reply and confirmed that he had made a low-level personal attack, thus violating the MCC. The order stated, “The commission hereby strongly censures Gangopadhyay for the above-said misconduct and debars him from campaigning for 24 hours starting from 5 pm of May 21.”
The EC emphasized that political leaders should confine their criticism of other parties to policies, programs, past records, and work, avoiding personal attacks unrelated to public activities. Additionally, criticism based on unverified allegations or distortions should be avoided.
The EC acted on a complaint by the Trinamool Congress regarding Gangopadhyay’s remarks at a public meeting on May 15 in Haldia. The poll panel’s order to Nadda advised him to ensure that such lapses do not recur during the campaign period.
Responding to the EC’s directive, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accepted the decision but questioned why the poll panel did not take action when BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister, were verbally attacked by opposition leaders. Bhattacharya commented, “I will tell the ECI to keep their eyes and ears open… The way the ECI has kept mum in those cases, I think the ECI must consult an ENT specialist… The AIIMS, New Delhi is not far away (from its office).”
Bhattacharya also stated that the Trinamool Congress had misrepresented the matter to the EC, asserting that Gangopadhyay, a highly educated person, would never insult any woman.
Ex Calcutta HC Judge, Abhijit Gangopadhyay joined the BJP on March 7, just days after resigning as a judge of the Calcutta High Court.
