WB Polls: Is Mamata in soup over her remarks on Kolkata Police Chief?

The Election Commission yesterday sought a recording of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's speech at a rally on Sunday, wherein she claimed that a section of the police had "unleashed terror" on people at the behest of the poll panel and warned them of "consequences" if she was voted to power.

"We have asked for a CD of the speech from the district magistrate. We will send the CD to the ECI and they will decide on this," Additional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dibyendu Sarkar said.

Banerjee in the rally at Chandipur in East Midnapore district alleged that officers were appointed to posts like Kolkata police commissioner, district magistrates and SPs under the instructions of the poll panel, and said that she had taken note of who had done what and also those who had worked "impartially".

"We keep watch on what's going on around. In this case, we have received complaints from political parties. Both the BJP and the CPM have lodged complaints with us," the Additional CEO said.

The EC had earlier slapped a show-cause notice to Banerjee for violating the model code of conduct. After receiving the show-cause notice she had said that the people of Bengal would 'showcause' the Election Commission on May 19.

The commission also filed an FIR against TMC candidate Sonali Guha for allegedly intimidating CPM polling agents and for interfering with the electoral process during the April 30 polling at Satgachia in South 24 Parganas district.

Meanwhile, talking about the post-poll violence in the state, Sarkar said that the Commission had directed the DGP to look into the matter and take necessary steps.

"The EC is directly interacting with the DGP. And he has been given directives how to deal with the post-poll violence. The DGP is reporting us regarding this from time to time," Sarkar said.

"We have got reports regarding this but apparently this incident is not connected with the elections", Sarkar spoke about the Malda blasts which killed three persons yesterday.

• Election Commission
• Mamata Banerjee
• Kolkata Police chief