Mamata Banerjee ECI petition filed by BJP seeks action over alleged Model Code violations and demands her debarment from campaigning in West Bengal. (File Photo)Accusing her of violating the Model Code of Conduct in force in West Bengal as political activity in the state gathers pace, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday urged the Election Commission of India to debar TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning.In a memorandum to ECI, senior Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Kiren Rijiju and other leaders from the BJP’s national leadership sought an urgent intervention of the poll body as they cited “malicious & repeated violations of model code of conduct and electoral & criminal laws in the State of West Bengal”.Calling on the Commission to invoke its “full constitutional and statutory powers” and to adopt “firm, enforceable and deterrent measures to secure immediate compliance and protect the purity of the electoral rolls and the sanctity of the elections” in West Bengal, the BJP sought Banerjee’s debarment.“…Debar Ms. Mamata Banerjee from participating in the election campaign…Since the local police is complicit and therefore ineffective, ensure enhanced deployment of central forces in sensitive and vulnerable areas,” it stated.The saffron party also cited examples of alleged misconduct by Banerjee and TMC leaders.“On 25 March 2026, during a public rally at Mainaguri, North Bengal, the Chief Minister reportedly stated that after the elections, citizens would be compelled to display posters outside their homes declaring, ‘I don’t support BJP.’ Such remarks amount to a direct threat to freedom of political expression and voter autonomy,” the BJP stated.The BJP said that on the same day, she urged women in Naxalbari to “come out with whatever you have at home”, saying her statement “carries a thinly veiled and dangerous implication encouraging the use of household objects as instruments of physical confrontation.Story continues below this adThe BJP said the “repeated exhortations were followed by a violent incident in Basanti” where the party’s workers, who “engaged in lawful and peaceful campaigning, were attacked by a mob of TMC goons at the behest and exhortations of Ms Mamata Banerjee”The BJP also accused TMC MP Mahua Moitra, while addressing a press conference in Kolkata on March 28, of “pitching one linguistic group community against the others”, contesting it was “in clear contempt and derogation of citizens of India on the basis of region, language, community with sole & malicious intent to drive a wedge, in an already supercharged political environment.”Also Read | BJP seal on EC letter: Kerala police dial X, Facebook and Instagram; users receive noticesThe party said she “flagrantly and unabashedly violated every single constitutional & legal provision” related to the electoral process and demanded “an urgent resolution” with nearly 40 more days to go before the elections finally conclude.“Such a vitiated atmosphere is not in the best interest of the State of West Bengal, its rich cultural heritage and its peace-loving people”, it also said, citing “pervasive fear and brute violence” during previous elections in the state and seeking action against both Banerjee and TMC leaders under relevant sections of the Representation of People Act as well as the BNS.Story continues below this adThe delegation also sought the deployment of more IAS and IPS officers as ECI observers to ensure that “the State administration and police acts impartially and decisively against all acts of violence or intimidation”.Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism. Expertise High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including: The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls. National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus. Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities. National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements. Academic Credentials: Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:West Bengal BJP