The Election Commission of India on Wednesday asked Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to explain her stand on her alleged appeal for votes on communal lines. The poll panel has asked her to respond to its notice within 48 hours. The EC notice comes after it received a complaint from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which alleged that on April 3, Mamata Banerjee in her speech "appealed to the Muslim voters not to let their vote be split among different political parties."

In its notice, the EC said after examining an authenticated transcript of Mamata Banerjee's speech from the said date, it is of the view that she has violated the Representation of People Act, 1951 and also the Model Code of Conduct for elections.