Soon after the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, Opposition parties united in their criticism of the poll body. They questioned the timing of the decision and termed it “unconstitutional”. The EC’s action came a day after parts of Kolkata witnessed widespread violence during BJP president Amit Shah’s massive road show in the city. A bust of 19th century Bengali icon Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was also vandalised during the violence. “This would be the first time when EC has invoked Article 324 in this manner but it may not be the last in cases of repetition of lawlessness and violence which vitiate the conduct of polls in a peaceful and orderly manner,” Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar said.

Source: Huffington Post May 16, 2019 06:33 UTC