EC halts Bengal Governor's Cooch Behar visit, cites MCC violation

• Election Commission halts WB Governor's Cooch Behar tour, citing Model Code of Conduct violation
• Governor was scheluled to visit Cooch Behar on Thursday and Friday
• As per Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no campaigning is allowed in 48-hour silence period before polling

The Election Commission has intervened to halt West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose’s planned tour of Cooch Behar on Thursday and Friday, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Scheduled polling in the area for the first phase and the commencement of the silence period from Wednesday evening prompted the EC’s decision.

Upon learning of the proposed tour to Cooch Behar, where phase one polling is set, the EC advised the governor's office against proceeding with the trip. No local programme can be organised for the governor as the MCC is in place and the poll is scheduled as well, the EC told his office.

The EC noted that the district administration and police would be deployed for election management on Thursday and Friday, and they would have to be diverted to provide security cover, the source said. It wasn’t imminently known what the requirement of the visit was, the source added.

Under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no campaigning is allowed in the 48-hour silence period before polling, which brings with it a higher level of enforcement by election authorities, the source said.