Modi, Mamata to hold rallies as Bengal enters last day of campaigning
Kolkata, May 16 (IBNS): After the Election Commission's directive, West Bengal will witness the last day of campaigning on Thursday with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holding rallies in different parts of the state.
Modi, who visited the state a day ago, will hold twin rallies in Mathurapur and Dum Dum at scheduled time 4:45 pm and 6:30 pm respectively.
Banerjee, who will cover up her scheduled Friday's programmes on Thursday itself, will hold rallies in Mathurapur and Diamond Harbour at 1 pm and 2 pm respectively. She will also hold two roadshows from Joka and Sukantu Setu later in the day.
The Election Commission of India on Wednesday cut short the campaign in West Bengal by almost a day from 10 pm on Thursday for the Lok Sabha elections in the state for the seventh and final phase of the polls on May 19. The move followed unprecedented violence in a roadshow of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah a day ago.
It also relieved ADG CID Rajiv Kumar and principal home secretary of their duties.
The ECI invoked Article 324 of the Constitution for its step. Reports said that for the first time, the election body used Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the powers of "superintendence, direction and control of elections".
The poll panel's directive comes a day after violence broke out between the saffron party and Trinamool Congress supporters in north Kolkata during a roadshow of BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday.
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