Showcause notice issued to CPI-M, Trinamool leaders: Poll panel

Show causes notices have been issued to CPI-M legislator Anisur Rehman for using "unparliamentary language" and to Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal for inciting party workers against the opposition, the Election Commission said Thursday.

The sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Rampurhat in West Bengal's Birbhum district slapped the showcause on Communist Party of India-Marxist's Rehman for using "unparliamentary language" during an election meeting in the district, assistant chief electoral officer Amitjyoti Bhattacharji told reporters here.

Rehman was under the poll panel's scanner for his alleged derogatory comments about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Trinamool's Birbhum district chief Mondal, who had allegedly used offensive words during a workers' meeting, has been served a showcause notice by SDO Labhpur in the Birbhum district.

In the case of Trinamool MP Sougata Roy, who allegedly urged party workers to capture polling booths, the Commission has received the report from the district magistrate in North 24-Parganas.

"We have received the report and the video footage alongwith the transcript of the speech has been sent to the central Election Commission," Bhattacharji said.

Roy, a Trinamool Congress candidate for Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency, in North 24-Parganas, exhorted party workers to "pay back the CPI-M in the same vein" while reminding them of the Marxist party's violent activities and booth capturing during previous polls.

The Commission is also in possession of the report regarding Bengali moviestar Dev's "rape" comments.

"The report is with us and it includes the details of his interview to a tabloid where he had used certain words. We have sought evidence in the form of the audio recording of the interview from the media house," he said.

Dev was recently embroiled in a controversy over his 'rape' comments that led to outrage from the opposition and people. After likening the Lok Sabha poll frenzy to "being raped", the movie star apologised for his comments.