KOLKATA: The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee TMC today sat on a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the heart of the city to protest against what she called, the Election Commission's (EC) 'unconstitutional' decision to ban her from campaigning for 24 hours.

The EC's ban was imposed on Monday for her alleged violation of the election code of conduct and had barred Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours from Monday 8 pm onwards for her remarks against central forces and a statement which had alleged religious overtones.

Still confined to a wheelchair owing to the injuries she sustained last month, Banerjee arrived at Mayo road here around 11.40 am and began her sit-in next to a Mahatma Gandhi's statue at the venue.

Interestingly the venue where the CM is staging her protest belongs to the army and a defence official said that they are yet to grant permission for the programme, TMC party leaders however said that its application for the area permission reached the local army headquarters today in the morning.

The TMC leader however said that no party leaders are allowed near the site of the protest and the CM was sitting there alone.

After the ban period ends at 2000 hours, Mrs Banerjee is scheduled to resume her electioneering with two rallies in North 24 Parganas Barasat and Bidhannagar constituencies for TMC candidates for the 5th phase polling to be held on April 17.