Mamata Banerjee replies to notice, EC decision on Tuesday

New Delhi, Apr 16: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday filed her response to an Election Commission notice which said she prima facie violated the model code by announcing creation of a new district in the poll-bound state.

Sources in the Commission said that the Trinamool Congress leader responded to the show cause on Saturday.

While refusing to go into the details, they said the issue is under the consideration of the poll watchdog and a decision will be taken by Tuesday. She was asked to respond by 3 PM today.

In an unusual move, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi had himself announced in Kolkata earlier this week that Banerjee has been served with a show cause notice.

The Chief Minister had responded at an election rally by saying that "on the first day of the Bengali new year, the EC has sent me a showcause notice over things I had said. I will say it again, I will say it a thousand times."

The Commission has already shunted out Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar over allegations of bias towards the ruling party.

PTI