BJP writes to EC over film based on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, requests it be reviewed like biopic on PM Modi

West Bengal wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party ((BJP) has approached the Election Commission to review an alleged biopic on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee titled ‘Baghini: Bengal Tigress’. The party has requested the body to take the same step that was taken in case of a similar film based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

READ: Election Commission Stalls Release Of PM Narendra Modi Biopic, Says "political Content Ought To Be Regulated"

In a letter signed by Joy Prakash Majumdar, Vice-President, BJP (WB), the party stated, “This is to draw your attention to the news in the media that a biopic allegedly on Smt. Mamata Banerjee will be released on 3 May 2019.  

“Bharatiya Janata Party requests the Hon’ble Election Commission of India and its representative in West Bengal to review said biopic before release, on similar lines that was done by the Hon’ble Election Commission in the case of another biopic depicting  Shri. Narendra Modi.” 

Previously, a biopic on PM Modi, titled ‘PM Narendra Modi’ starring Vivek Oberoi was stalled by the EC ahead of its release on  April 11, the day the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls had kicked off. Films based on former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, titled ‘Lakshmi’s NTR’, and on current Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao, 'Udyama Simham' also were stalled by the election body. 

The EC has ordered that any biopic which subserves any political party or individual connected to it and intends to or has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the elections should not be displayed through electronic media including cinematograph during the operation of the Model Code of Conduct.  

READ: Not Just PM Modi Biopic, Election Commission Directs Producers Not To Release Films On NTR And KCR

 The EC said that it contends that the films' content has propensity and potentiality to affect level playing field which is not in consonance with the provisions of MCC.