BJP demands removal of 'politically biased' Naveen Chawla
31 Jan 2009, 1858 Hrs

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New Delhi, Jan.31 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the removal of the Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, citing his close political attachment to the Congress Party.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP's General Secretary Arun Jaitley said due to the fact that Naveen Chawla enjoys a close relationship with the Congress party, it would not be conducive to hold free and fair elections this year.

Alleging that the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, led by the Congress, has gone out of its way to help Chawla, Jaitley said when over 200 MPs have submitted a memorandum to the President against him on charges that he suffers from political bias, the Prime Minister's Office refusal to forward it to the Chief Election Commissioner for his recommendation smacks of favouritism.

Jaitley added that a person prima facie indicted on the ground of political bias cannot conduct elections.

"Free and fair elections are the hallmark of India's parliamentary democracy. The Election Commission is a politically detached constitutional authority, which is entrusted with the responsibility of conduct of free and fair elections, and a person suffering from political bias is not suitable to conduct the elections," he said.

Earlier, the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami had confirmed reports that he had sent his report and recommendations on the Chawla issue to the President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

The Congress has said that such issues should not be politicised, as it involves several intricate issues of law that need to be looked into. (ANI)

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