"Decision to stop campaigning a day in advance not understood," says Sitaram Yechury hitting out at EC for no action on 'lumpen elements' behind Kolkata violence

Responding to the Election Commission's decision to suspend the poll campaigning for 24 hours in West Bengal ahead of the final phase of Lok Sabha polls in the aftermath of violence in the capital city, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury launched a scathing attack at the poll body.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote that the decision by the EC to stop campaigning a day in advance is "not understood". In an attack at Trinamool and BJP, he further lashed out at the poll body for not taking any action against the "lampen elements" of BJP and TMC for violence in Kolkata. 

"Why has no action been initiated?" he added. 

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In the aftermath of violence witnessed in each of the six phases of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission addressed a press conference where it announced that campaigning for the seventh phase in the state would be suspended 24 hours ahead of the earlier allotted time.

As per the poll body's decision, the election campaigning of all forms in the state would be suspended by 10 pm on Thursday, May 16, and remain suspended till the end of the polls.

The Election Commission further said that ADG (CID) West Bengal Rajeev Kumar stands relieved of his post and is reassigned to the Home Ministry in New Delhi where he will have to report by 10 am on Thursday. The poll body also added that Atri Bhattacharya, Principal Secretary (Home) of the West Bengal government stands removed and his duties will be discharged with the state's Chief Secretary for the time being.

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