Calcutta, April 14: The Election Commission today said it was considering "urgent legal action" against Birbhum Trinamul chief Anubrata Mondal, who has been showcaused four times by the panel this poll season for alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
"Regarding Sri Anubrata Mondal, the commission is considering urgent legal action. What that action is, you will get to know very soon," chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said at a news conference during the poll panel full bench's visit to Calcutta. He had been asked about Mondal's repeated inflammatory comments.
"We will not hesitate to take the most unpleasant action against those responsible if legitimate voters are unable to cast their votes," Zaidi said.
On Tuesday, Mondal had said no polling agent of the Opposition would be seen anywhere on April 17, when Birbhum votes, and thousands of people watching intently would not be able to figure out how he would make them "vanish". Comparing his plan of action to magic shows where things vanish in front of thousands of people, he had said: "The same thing will happen here. Nobody will be able to do anything."
During meetings with the commission today, all Opposition parties complained against Mondal. Sources said Zaidi took notes and collected CDs containing "video evidence" of the Trinamul leader's provocative comments, mostly at rallies.
State government sources said the Birbhum administration could be ordered to carry out Mondal's preventive arrest.
"He is a habitual offender, known for exercising undue influence on the election process. Besides, he has been making inciting statements repeatedly in public. The commission could order his arrest as a preventive measure, following which he would be released against a bond signed before a magistrate," a source said.
"After that, the commission could force him to stay away from the district on the day of polling and ensure 24-hour surveillance on him," he added.
Mondal declined to comment on the commission's statement. "I would not like to comment on what the EC has said. Let us leave it at that," he said.
His party chief, however, sprang to his defence as usual.
At a rally in Birbhum's Suri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had on earlier occasions called Mondal a "good boy" and empathised with an ailment of the strongman that does not allow enough oxygen to go to his head, said: "Why should Anubrata be arrested? If he is arrested, then why not (CPM leaders) Surjya (Kanta Mishra), (Mohammad) Salim, Sujan (Chakraborty) and Buddha (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee)? If Anubrata is arrested, many more will be arrested. They won't get Birbhum by putting Anubrata behind bars. Let's see who touches him," she said.
CPM politburo member Salim said if the commission managed to put a leash on Mondal, free and fair elections could be held in Birbhum "after years".
"Take Mondal out of the equation and the polls in Birbhum will be free and fair. If such polls are held, Trinamul will be defeated in the district. That is why the Trinamul chief is so scared," Salim said.
Bengal Congress vice-president Debabrata Basu said Mondal posed a "challenge" to the commission. "Mondal destroys everything the commission stands for. If the commission can stop that this time, we will know it means business," Basu said.
Mondal, who had been showcaused thrice before the Lok Sabha elections, had on March 24 exhorted party workers to "use the method" that was adopted during the 2014 general election and last year's civic polls and ensure "80 per cent" votes for the party. Both elections had been marred by complaints of widespread violence and rigging.
On March 19, Mondal had made distasteful comments against BJP leader Locket Chatterjee. Four days earlier, he had instructed party workers to tell families that do not vote for Trinamul that "the Election Commission will be there till the polls" and "we will continue" to be there.
