Mamata Banerjee sitting on a picket in front of a statue of Gandhiji is painting

Kolkata, dated 13 April 2021, Tuesday

Mamata Banerjee is sitting in front of a statue of Gandhiji in protest against the Election Commission's 24-hour ban on campaigning for Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for making controversial statements at election rallies.

Mamata Banerjee has called the dharna a satyagraha. They are sitting here alone in a wheelchair picketing. Not a single TMC leader is with him. Mamata Banerjee was seen painting during the picket. This was also a form of protest against the Election Commission.

Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to sit on the dharna from 12 noon but reached the spot half an hour earlier. Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address two election rallies after her ban expires at 8 pm tonight. The campaign for the fifth phase of polling will also be stopped 72 hours earlier instead of 48 hours as directed by the Election Commission.

The TMC is red-faced over the ban imposed by the Election Commission and has said that the Election Commission has become Dhritarashtra for the BJP. The decision of the Election Commission is a violation of the rights of democracy.