Mumbai, Sep 18 (PTI) Democracy is in danger in India if the Election Commission is issuing decisions under duress, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged on Friday after the poll body ordered freezing of the Trinamool Congress’s name and symbol.
Speaking to reporters, Raut asserted that the TMC belongs to former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and accused the BJP of engineering a split in the party.
In its interim order issued on Thursday night, the Election Commission, after hearing leaders of the two factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, said the matter requires substantive determination by the poll body under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968.
Pending the determination, neither faction will be allowed to use the name ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ or the reserved ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol in the October 6 bypolls, the commission stated.
“She (Banerjee) founded it (TMC) and decided its objectives. She also gave tickets to MLAs and MPs. But the BJP split the party. That does not mean the party belongs to them (rebels). The party belongs to Mamata Banerjee,” he said.
The poll body should not have frozen the symbol, he said, adding that the rebels should take some other symbol and contest the polls.
“Democracy is in danger if the Election Commission is giving such decisions under duress,” he said.
The Election Commission’s move has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition parties, who have expressed support for the TMC amid its ongoing dispute with the rival fold.
