EC issues show-cause notice to BJP, TMC leaders

Kolkata: The Election Commission has served a show-cause notice each to the BJP district president of Nadia Mahadev Sarkar and Trinamool Congress MLA from Chakdah Ratna Ghosh Kar, for their derogatory remarks.

Sarkar had made some derogatory remarks on Mahua Moitra, who is contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket. The Commission has taken a strong objection to his remarks after watching the video where he was heard saying the words. Sarkar has been asked to clarify why he made such remarks about a candidate of his rival party.

The Commission had earlier sought a report from the District Magistrate of Nadia on April 17, regarding the statements made by Ghosh Kar. The Commission has now show-caused her after it found her statements highly derogatory in nature. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has gone through the report submitted by the DM in this regard.

The TMC MLA found herself at the centre of controversy after she made some objectionable remarks regarding the Central Force. It was alleged that during a closed door party meeting, she had appealed to the members of the party's Mahila Morcha to "chase Central Forces away with broomsticks."

In another development, an FIR was lodged with the Hooghly police against Locket Chatterjee, who is contesting the election from Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency on BJP's ticket. During a rally, Chatterjee had allegedly made some remarks

which could have triggered communal tension in the area.