New Delhi: BJP on Thursday told the Election Commission (EC) that it supports the dignity and independence of the poll-body even as it termed as personal view the comments of its West Bengal leader that the poll body is in the "control" of the party.
Maintaining that the said leader, Joy Banerjee, does not represent its official viewpoint, the party replied to an EC letter which had sought its stand on the purported remarks of Banerjee.
The BJP said the party "does not second or support" any view aired by any individual in his or her "personal capacity."
BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh, in a letter to the EC, said that his party "wishes to reiterate" that it has always stood for and continues to affirm the dignity, neutrality, independence and autonomy of the EC.
"Hence, we do not support any view other than the one stated herein (in the reply)," he said stopping short of making an apology.
In a separate letter to CEC Nasim Zaidi, Banerjee apologised for his remarks which he said were made in "over enthusiasm". He also made it clear that he is not an office bearer of West Bengal BJP.
Addressing a rally in Mayureshwar in Birbhum on Sunday last, Banerjee had reportedly said his party has "control over the Election Commission" and it would ensure adequate deployment of Central forces to oversee elections in West Bengal.
He had also said "if BJP won the Bihar elections, it will run a bulldozer in Bengal in the next polls." After the EC sought a reply on this, BJP said it had nothing to do with Banerjee's remarks which he had made in personal capacity. It had also noted that he has already apologised for his comments.
"The Election Commission is a constitutional body and BJP has all the respect for its independence," BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma had said.
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