Mamata replies to EC notice, Rezzak show-caused again

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee replied to the show-cause notice issued by the Election Commission on Wednesday. 

The Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for her promises of creating a separate Asansol district from an election rally. She said the decision to declare Asansol as a separate district was taken on the Cabinet meeting on December 18, 2015.

Election Commission of India (ECI) has again issued a show-cause notice to controversial Trinamool Congress leader Abdur Razzak Molla who is contesting the Assembly elections from Bhangar Assembly Constituency.

The notice was served to Molla for his derogatory comments against Roopa Ganguly, actor turned politician who is contesting the elections from Howrah North Assembly Constituency.

It may be mentioned the Commission had earlier show-caused Molla after he flouted the model code of conduct while addressing an election rally in Bhangar few weeks ago. During that time he made some objectionable remarks against the Election Commission.

This time also, the Commission has taken a strong objection to his comment and asked him to reply to its notice giving a detailed clarification on why he made such irresponsible comments about her during a television interview. 

A delegation from BJP had met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sunil Gupta urging him to take strong action against Molla. Another team comprising of senior CPI-M leaders also met Gupta requesting him to prevent political clashes in which CPI(M) activists have been beaten up as they claimed. The CPI(M) leaders requested the CEO to strengthen security arrangements in Cassipore and Beliaghata.  

In another development the EC has decided to deploy two more general observers in Murshidabad along with one which was earlier decided by the Commission. 

For the Phase VI election, the Commission has received 70 nominations of candidates among which 2 have been cancelled while in East Midnapore 105 candidates have filed their nominations among which the Commission has rejected 2 nominations, a senior official of the CEO office said.