The poll panel also asked BJP president J P Nadda to issue an advisory to all candidates and campaigners to make sure that this lapse does not recur during the campaign period.
Barring Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours from Tuesday 5 pm, the poll panel said it was of the view that his comments violated the Model Code of Conduct.
The EC described Gangopadhyay’s remark as a “low-level personal attack”, and warned Gangopadhyay to remain careful in his public utterances during the campaign period.
The EC decision came a day after Gangopadhyay, the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Tamluk, sent his reply to a show-cause notice issued by the poll panel for his “undignified” remarks against Banerjee at a rally in Haldia on May 15.
In his address, Gangopadhyay had referred to the Sandeshkhali sexual abuse allegations and said: “Today, the Trinamool says everything is a lie. Rekha Patra (one of the protesters and BJP’s Basirhat candidate) was bought for Rs 2,000. Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? One gives you Rs 8 lakh and gets a job, one gives you Rs 10 lakh and ration vanishes… Why is your rate, Rs 10 lakh? Is it because you get your makeup done by Keya Seth (Kolkata-based beautician)?…”
Acting on a complaint by the Trinamool Congress, the EC sent a show-cause notice to Gangopadhyay on May 17.
Censuring him on Tuesday, the poll panel strictly warned Gangopadhyay to be careful in his public utterances during the currency of the Model Code of Conduct.
“…the Commission has carefully gone through the contents and averments made in the aforesaid reply of Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay and has again gone through the statement made and is convinced that he has made a low-level personal attack and thus violated the provisions of Model Code of Conduct,” the EC said in its order.
“Whereas, the Commission remains uncompromisingly committed to the same above declaration and finds Shri Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s statement a direct affront on the ‘erosion of status of women in India’; such statement that is outrightly condemnable when used in respect of any woman, not to speak of a senior political leader and holder of a constitutional position, who he has targeted,” it further said.
Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: “The poll panel has taken a decision after feeling that Gangopadhyay’s comment was in bad taste and has hurt people’s sentiment. But TMC has tried to misinterpret his comments. He is a dignified person and has fought for people’s rights.”
Bhattacharya urged the poll panel to take into account the statements made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the religious organisations.