New Delhi : Less than twentyfour hours after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat”s controversial remarks on reservations, the BJP had to tackle another embarrassment as the Election Commission of India slapped a notice on the party demanding explanation for the recent objectionable remarks made West Bengal party leader Joy Bannerjee.
The EC, in its notice said the comments of the West Bengal leader amount-ed to denigrating the integrity of the Election Commission as it could distort public perception. Till late Tuesday evening, BJP central leaders were still deliberating whether to reply to the notice or seek an answer from the West Bengal for the uncalled for remarks. Joy Bannerjee, a well known Tollywood actor and the BJP”s candidate from Birbhum in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, had remarked on Sunday that the TMC would not be allowed to do mass-scale rigging in the assembly polls next year as the EC was now under BJP”s control and the party would ensure heavy deployment of forces in the state”.
The notice dated 22nd September reads, ”the Commission considers that the statement of Shri Bannerjee amounts to denigrating the integrity of the Election Commisison as the statement can distort public perception about the neutrality, autonomy and independence of the Election Commission”. The notice further says that the Bharatiya Janata Party must explain its position regarding this statement. The EC has directed the party to file its explanation by 25th September.
The EC has also attached a CD of the objectionable speech made by Bannerjee in Birbhum and cuttings of national as well as local dailies as evidence.
Joy Bannerjee had joined the band wagon of actors, artists and social workers flocking to the BJP on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. Bannerjee also contested from Birbhum though he lost to the TMC candidate and Tollywood heartthrob Shatabdi Roy.