Kolkata, May 15: Hours after the Election Commission cut short poll campaigning in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress Supremo and Chief Minister of the state Mamata Banerjee hit out at the poll panel. Banerjee alleged that the EC is running under the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) directions. She called the poll panel’s decision “unprecedented” and “unconstitutional”. The West Bengal CM said, “Election Commission's decision is unfair, unethical and politically biased. PM Modi given time to finish his two rallies tomorrow.”

The TMC chief also lashed out at the BJP President Amit Shah and held him responsible for yesterday’s violence and threatening the poll panel. Banerjee said, “Yesterday's violence was because of Amit Shah. Why has EC not issued a show-cause notice to him or sacked him?” She added, “Amit Shah today did a press conference, threatened EC, is this the result of that? Bengal is not scared.” Banerjee alleged that Bengal was targeted because she was speaking against PM Modi. Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha Constituency in West Bengal: Candidates, Current MP, Polling Date And Election Results 2019.

She even said, “Amit Shah created violence through his meeting, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar statue was vandalized but Modi did not feel sorry for that today. People of Bengal have taken this seriously, action should be taken against Amit Shah.” Banerjee also alleged that the BJP brought goons from outside who “created violence wearing saffron”.

She likened yesterday’s violence to Babri Masjid's demolition in 1992. While addressing a press conference, she also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated, “Narendra Modi you cannot take care of your wife, how can you take care of the country?”

In the meantime, Union Minister supported EC's decision through a series of tweets. He tweeted, "A constitutional authority, the Election Commission of India, has effectively held Bengal to be a state in Anarchy. Repeatedly escalating violence, state-supported Vandals, partisan police and home department are the illustrations the ECI has given."  He added, "A free campaign is not possible and therefore the campaign has to be cut short. This is a classical case of breakdown of the Constitutional Machinery."

Arun Jaitley's Tweet:

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the EC cut short poll campaign in the state. The campaigning on the remaining nine constituencies will end after 10 pm tomorrow. The poll panel also invoked Article 324 for the first time.

Yesterday, violence broke out during Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata. According to reports, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members hurled bricks at Vidyasagar College at Shankar Ghose Lane in Kolkata. Stones were also pelted at Shah's convoy from a college hostel on Bidhan Sarani.

The nine constituencies which are going for polls in the seventh phase of the general elections are - Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, South and North Kolkata. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 15, 2019 10:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).