Classic case of constitutional breakdown: Jaitley on Bengal

Classic case of constitutional breakdown: Jaitley on Bengal

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses during the 93rd Annual Day celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi, on April 6, 2019. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday took a swipe at West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress as he dubbed the Election Commission's decision to cut short the poll campaign in the state a "classic case of breakdown of constitutional machinery".

"A free campaign is not possible and therefore, the campaign has to be cut short. This is a classical case of breakdown of the Constitutional Machinery," he said in a series of tweets.

He said the Election Commission has effectively held Bengal to be "a state in anarchy".

"Repeatedly escalating violence, state supported vandals, a partisan police and home department are the illustrations the ECI has given," he said.

His remarks came hours after the Election Commission took an unprecedented step of curtailing poll campaign in the state by a day as it ordered stoppage of electioneering from 10 p.m. on Thursday on the remaining nine Lok Sabha constituencies going to the polls on May 19.

In the wake of violence held on Tuesday during BJP chief Amit Shah's roadshow, the poll body invoked - for the first time - Article 324 of the Constitution which gives it special powers to control and give directions for holding elections.

--IANS

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