The Election Commission on India (ECI) on Tuesday barred former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, now the BJP’s Tamluk Lok Sabha candidate, from campaigning for 24 hours, for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The 24-hour bar on his campaigning will begin at 5 pm on May 21.
The poll body “strongly censured” Gangopadhyay after his crass remarks about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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“[T]he Commission painfully notes the fact that such abominable words have come from someone of Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s educational and professional background and hence does not remotely deserve any benefit of doubt. And whereas, by Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s words, he has brought damage and disrepute to the state of West Bengal that has a distinguished tradition of respect for women,” the poll body noted in its order.
On May 15, Gangopadhyay, at a public meeting in Haldia, had said in Bengali, “Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakhs, why? Because you’re getting your makeup done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes.”
The EC took note of this statement after the All India Trinamool Congress filed a complaint on May 16. The poll panel issued a show cause notice to Gangopadhyay on May 17 for violating the Model Code of Conduct. He replied on May 20.
Gangopadhyay resigned as a judge on March 5 and joined the BJP on March 7. His Lok Sabha constituency goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.
(With inputs from ANI)