India Supreme Court maintains Mayawati campaign ban

India’s Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the Election Commission to temporarily ban Dalit leader Mayawati from campaigning for 48 hours.

Ms Mayawati appealed against the decision in the Supreme Court on Tuesday 16 April.

She was deemed of violating election guidelines for cautioning Muslims against splitting their vote - she urged them to vote against the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and to vote for her party and its allies.

The state's chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, was also pulled up on Monday for two different remarks against Muslims.

The remarks by both leaders violate election guidelines because they are seen as polarising and appeal to voters on the basis of identity.