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Updated May 16th, 2019 at 12:56 IST

Lines drawn ahead of massive Modi vs Opposition showdown in West Bengal, 20 anti-BJP parties to protest against EC and back Mamata Banerjee

After the Election Commission cut short the campaign in West Bengal by 24 hours following the violence in the state during BJP chief Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday and during the each of the six election phases, over 20 parties will be protesting against the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission in West Bengal on Thursday.

Reported by: Apoorva Rao
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After the Election Commission cut short the campaign in West Bengal by 24 hours following the violence in the state during BJP chief Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday and during the each of the six election phases, over 20 parties will be protesting against the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission in West Bengal on Thursday. The 20 parties will include Akhilesh Yadav led- Samajwadi party, Mayawati led- BSP, and Rahul Gandhi led-Congress.

As per sources Chandrababu Naidu led-TDP, MK Stalin-led DMK, Farooq Abdullah led- NC, Sharad Pawar led- NCP are likely to join Opposition protesting against the EC in Bengal.

On Thursday, West Bengal CM and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted thanking all the parties in Opposition who are supporting her.

The war of words ahead of the protest had already begun on Wednesday between leaders, who are now in two camps, NDA and those supporting Banerjee .

Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad West Bengal under Banerjee and the EC's decision to cut short campaigning by 24 hours,

"This is shameful, When were we ever safe under her rule, we can't carry out rally. There was an attack on the life of our BJP president and they framed a case against him. She is frustrated and is going to lose hence she is misusing her power. People of Bengal are with the BJP," he said. 

BJP's national spokersperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "A history sheeter's big crime has received a small punishment. Can any institution which is responsible for free and fair polls ignore this brazen violence? The open poll violence is supported by the state government."

Congress national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also questioned the EC.

"The way violence played out in Bengal and it was done under BJP chief's leadership. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was destroyed. Despite all this EC instead of conducting an inquiry against Shah they have cut short the campaigning by 24 hours so only Modi can hold rallies and no other party in Oposition can... The question is whether Modi-Shah have hijacked the free and fair decision-making ability of the poll body?"  he said. 

READ | "While Amit Shah Isn't 'God', Mamata Banerjee's Also No Goddess Or Saint", Says Shiv Sena Hitting Out At The West Bengal CM And Trinamool Over Election 2019 Violence

Samajwadi Party's Mayawati said that the Mamata Banerjee has been targeted by PM Modi and Amit Shah.

"Since the time the Lok Sabha elections were announced, since then, in West Bengal, there are some news reports (of violence) from the state for which BJP, RSS are responsible. The violence that has been taking place, it seems clear to me that Modi and Shah have targeted Mamata Banerjee's government through a conspiracy. This is being done so that Modi government can divert people's attention from the flaws in its rule," she said.

"The Election Commission has banned campaigning in West Bengal, but from 10 pm today just because PM has two rallies in the day. If they had to ban then why not from today morning? This is unfair and EC is acting under pressure," she added.

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Published May 16th, 2019 at 12:56 IST

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