The chief of Bahujan Samaj Party has been barred from campaigning on Tuesday and Wednesday for her comments while seeking votes from Muslims in Deoband last week. The commission took action against Mayawati, barring her from campaigning for 48 hours for her provocative speech in Deoband.

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Its action this time came on a day the Supreme Court pulled it up for failing to take action in cases of Model Code violation and questioning if it was even aware of its powers to force errant political leaders to fall in line. Within a couple of hours, the poll body -- which earlier issued notices to Yogi Mayawati -- ordered a ban, invoking special powers under Article 324 of the Constitution. In its order, the Commission pointed out that appealing to caste or communal feelings to secure votes is not allowed under the Model Code, which is a series of dos and don'ts for political parties ahead of elections.

At a recent meeting in Deoband, Mayawati had warned the Muslim community not to "split votes" between the Congress and her alliance. Appealing to caste or communal feelings to secure votes is a no-no under the model code, which is a series of dos and don'ts for political parties ahead of elections. Though Mayawati is not contesting, she is spearheading the alliance with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Ajit Singh in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of lawmakers to the Lok Sabha.

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