Mamata not fighting polls against parties but with EC: Narendra Modi

In West Bengal, Modi attacked Mamata for 'trying to destroy' an independent institution like the Election Commission.

Criticising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for ‘threatening’ the Election Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said she was busy fighting with the poll panel instead of taking on political parties as she and her party TMC had already conceded defeat.

"On the brink of defeat, Trinamool Congress has lost its senses. Mamata and her party have accepted defeat and so she is not fighting the political parties but she is fighting with the Election Commission," Modi told a rally here, referring to the row over EC issuing a notice to Banerjee over poll code violation.

Read: Mamata attacks EC, says 'they are dancing to BJP's tunes'

The Prime Minister said that elections would come and go, but the institutions will stay. "Didi, Election Commission is an independent body. It has recognition throughout the world. The way players obey umpires in a game, it is the duty of political parties to respect the Commission," said Modi.

Read: I will continue to do or say as I like: Mamata slams EC

"After EC's showcause notice, your duty was to meet them and place your point of view, but you said I will see after 19th May (counting day)," Modi said, adding that she should have seen poverty and hardships of the people instead. "It would not have been necessary to threaten the Election Commission," he said, adding that the TMC had conceded defeat.

Read: EC issues showcause notice to Mamata for promising new district

Modi said that if she refused to respect EC, then she has to come clean on whether she has faith in the Constitution and democracy.

Speaking on a report that state chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee had sent a reply to the Commission on its showcause to Banerjee, Modi said, “I heard that chief secretary has given the reply. The Commission did not issue showcause to her as chief minister, it was issued to her as a TMC leader.”

"Either TMC, or its lawyer or Mamataji herself should have given the reply. But if it is true that chief secretary has sent the reply, it was a violation of the model code and misuse of government machinery," he pointed out.

He said that there was victory and defeat in democracy but none should disrespect an institution.

On the Narada sting operation against TMC leaders, Modi said, "The whole country had seen it. Bengal's future was being sold before camera. If Left leaders were shown in such video, you (Mamata) would have drummed up protests on the issue throughout the state."

Meanwhile, the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections began today amid tight security arrangements. 383 candidates, including 33 women, are in the fray for the 56 seats spread in seven districts.

Read: West Bengal polls: 70.33 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

Polling for the third phase is scheduled for April 21, fourth on April 25 and the fifth and six phases on April 30 and May 5 respectively. The counting of votes will take place on May 19.