The Election Commission (EC) has issued a censure against BJP leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate for making derogatory remarks during the election campaign in West Bengal. The EC’s action comes in response to violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by both leaders.

According to the EC’s order, Ghosh and Shrinate were found guilty of making low-level personal attacks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, respectively. The Commission emphasized that such remarks violate the provisions of the MCC.

The EC’s warning notice specifically instructs Ghosh and Shrinate to exercise caution in their public statements during the MCC period. Additionally, it states that their election-related communications will be closely monitored by the Commission from now on.

Furthermore, copies of the warning notices have been sent to the respective party chiefs to sensitize their members about the importance of refraining from derogatory comments and MCC violations in the public domain.

Highlighting its commitment to upholding the status of women during elections, the EC stressed the importance of maintaining dignity and respect towards women in political discourse.

The EC initiated action against Ghosh and Shrinate following complaints from rival parties. Ghosh faced backlash for his disrespectful comments regarding Mamata Banerjee’s family background, while Shrinate came under fire for a derogatory social media post directed at Kangana Ranaut.

Both leaders were issued show-cause notices on March 27 and were required to respond by March 29. Ghosh’s comments had prompted a police complaint, and Shrinate’s post, which has since been deleted, drew criticism from the BJP.