The poll body found the remarks of Ghosh against CM Mamata Banerjee, and Shrinate’s against Kangana Ranaut to be ‘undignified and in bad taste’. The Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued show cause notices to BJP leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for their remarks against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut respectively. The poll body found the remarks of Ghosh against CM Mamata Banerjee, and Shrinate’s against Kangana Ranaut to be ‘undignified and in bad taste’ and asked them to respond to the commission by Friday, March 29, 5 pm. In both these notices, the EC said that the comments made by the leaders are prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. As per clause (2) of Part I ‘General Conduct’ of Model Code of Conduct for the Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates, criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, record and work. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided. The Congress leader sparked a massive controversy after an objectionable post was made from her Instagram handle demeaning Ranaut, who has been named as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi for the upcoming polls. “Can someone tell what is the current rate in Mandi (market)?” the now deleted post read. It was made next to a picture of Ranaut.
