Supreme Court Declines Mayawati's Plea Against EC Ban On Campaigning

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain BSP chief Mayawati ’s plea against the Election Commission barring her from campaigning . 

The EC had on Monday imposed a 48-hour ban on election campaigning on Mayawati. The BSP supremo alleged the decision appeared to have been “taken under pressure” and would be remembered as a “black day”.

Mayawati had termed the ban a “sudden unprecedented order based on wrong facts”.

The EC imposed a nation-wide ban on Mayawati, among other leaders, for their “provocative” communal remarks, which it said had the “propensity to polarise the elections”.

The action follows her speech in Deoband last week where she appealed to Muslim voters to not vote for Congress to avoid division in the anti-BJP votes.

“All citizens have the rights to move about and put forth their point of view. But here, the Election Commission has suddenly given an order which has cruelly deprived me of my rights on the basis of wrong facts.

“This order will be remembered in the history of Election Commission as a black day,” Mayawati told reporters while claiming that the “hurried” decision seems to have been taken under pressure.

“The intention behind this order is clear that as BSP chief I am not able to make an appeal to the people to uproot the BJP from power...The EC knows that campaigning for the second phase ends Tuesday evening and the Agra joint rally was scheduled. Now, I will not be able to make an appeal to the voters of Agra, Mathura and Fatehpur.

“Would such a sudden order, in a democratic set up like India, not be called murder of democracy,” she posed.

Mayawati also alleged that Election Commission has “closed its eyes and ears” on speeches by BJP president Amit Shah Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other saffron party leaders. 

“Shah and Modi have been given an open hand to spread hatred among different communities and play with the security of the country,” the BSP president said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks asking first-time voters to dedicate their vote to those who carried out the Balakot air strike are under examination of the poll panel.

About the rally in Agra scheduled Tuesday, Mayawati said senior BSP leaders will go there with her message.