Why Only West Bengal, Why Not Varanasi?: Mayawati Asks EC

Mayawati had accused PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah of targeting Mamata as part of a conspiracy.

BSP supremo Mayawati addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Saturday. 

(Photo: PTI)

A day after coming out in support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday, 17 May, lashed out against the Election Commission for not looking into Varanasi as it had in West Bengal’s case.

In a tweet, the BSP chief claimed that outsiders are bribing people in Varanasi to vote for PM Narendra Modi who is seeking re-election from the Lok Sabha seat.

Her tweet, which is in Hindi, roughly translates to: How will the voting in Varanasi be unbiased when there are outsiders who are bribing and threatening people in an effort to ensure that Shri Narendra Modi wins? Why is the Election Commission not keeping an eye on Varanasi, like it did on Bengal?

Mayawati Comes Out in Support of Mamata Banerjee

Rallying behind Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati on Thursday, 16 May, had accused PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah of targeting the West Bengal chief minister as part of a conspiracy and said it reflected a "dangerous attitude".

Addressing a press conference, Mayawati had said, "Everyday we are getting some kind of news from Bengal for which the BJP and RSS are responsible,” PTI reported.

"As far as election-related violence is concerned there, it can be seen clearly that BJP and the government led by PM Narendra Modi and his chela (follower) BJP President Amit Shah, under a planned conspiracy, have been targeting the Mamata Banerjee government," Mayawati said.

"During Lok Sabha elections, Mamata Banerjee and her government are being targeted under a conspiracy to divert peoples attention from failures of the Modi government," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister charged.

“The manner in which the 'guru' and 'chela' are after the Mamata Banerjee government is also indicative of a "dangerous attitude which is not only wrong but unjustified," she said.

“Such a conspiracy to defame Mamata Banerjee and her government is unbecoming of a PM.”

Mayawati, President, BSP

‘EC Acted Under Pressure From Centre’

A day after the Election Commission curtailed campaigning in West Bengal, Mayawati had charged that the poll body acted under pressure of the central government.

Coming down hard on the poll body, she said, "It is unfortunate that the Election Commission acted under pressure of the Centre in curtailing electioneering in West Bengal while the PM could address two rallies today". It is now clear that under the present Chief Election Commissioner, Lok Sabha elections are not being held in a free and fair manner, Mayawati charged.

The Election Commission on Wednesday had ordered campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 PM on Thursday, a day before its scheduled deadline, in the wake of violence between BJP and TMC workers in Kolkata.

Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar had said that it was for the first time that such an action has been taken using constitutional powers of the poll panel.

The EC’s action came after parts of Kolkata witnessed widespread violence during BJP president Amit Shah’s massive road show in the city. A bust of 19th century Bengali icon Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was also vandalised during the violence.

The order said it has been brought to the notice of the Commission that there have been growing incidents of disruption and violence during the political campaigns and processions in West Bengal during the ongoing elections.

The EC invoked Article 324 of the Constitution to curtail the campaigning for the last phase of the election on 19 May.

(With inputs from PTI)