The Election Commission on Wednesday issued a notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “appealing Muslim voters to not let their vote be split among different political parties & demanding votes on communal ground for TMC.” The poll body has given Mamata 48 hours to respond to the allegations.

The EC said if the 66-year-old fails to explain herself, they will take a decision on the matter without further referencing her.

The notice said the poll panel had received a complaint from a BJP delegation alleging that on April 3.

According to the poll body, the complaint refers to the following section of her speech.

“… I am requesting my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands… don’t divide the minority votes after listening to the devil… who had taken money from the BJP… He passes many communal statements and initiates clashes between Hindus and Muslims… comrades of the CPM and BIP is roaming around with money given by BJP to divide the minority votes”.

As per news agency PTI, the EC said it found her speech violating the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and the model code.

Mamata has been toiling hard in the Bengal assembly election. While the Trinamool Congress chief is trying to woo the voters by trading barbs with the BJP, the latter, on the other hand, has been making sweeping statements, hinting at Trinamool’s defeat.

The three of the 8-phase polling in West Bengal is done, with the fourth phase scheduled to be held on April 10. The counting of the votes will be on May 2.