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| Avoid playing politics in Chief Election Commission's court | | |
NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
The rift between Chief Election Commissioner, N.Gopalaswami, and the Election Commissioner, Navin Chawla, would have been treated as part of the inner democracy in the commission which has the provision for differing on many issues. But the rift assumed new political dimensions with the Congress and the BJP supporting the one against the other. For the BJP Gopalaswami was right. Navin Chawla has been right in the eyes of the Congress. The political rivalry between the Congress and the BJP seems to have sullied the otherwise Election Commission's image of honesty, integrity and impartiality. The Congress leadership felt peeved when Gopalaswami alleged that Navin Chawla had passed information regarding the election schedule to the Congress in advance. In fact the Chief Election Commissioner gave an impression that Chawla was Congress man in the Commission.
The Congress felt outraged and instead of contradicting the observations of Gopalaswami the Congress made an announcement that Navin Chawla would be the next Chief Election Commissioner. By saying so the Congress convinced those who had not believed in Gopalaswami's observation and allegations that Chawla was really the congress man in the commission. It may not be correct but the way the Congress has defended Chawla and denigraded Gopalaswami does make one believe that Congress has soft corner for Chawla and rancor for the Chief Election Commissioner. Again the BJP faulted like the Congress when it defended the stand taken by Gopalaswami. However, the BJP made a belated attempt to score over the Congress when the senior party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated that while the Congress was trying to protect an individual(Chawla) the BJP was defending an institution.
Apparently neither Gopalawami nor Navin Chawla seemed to have been upset by the remarks made by the BJP and the Congress against them. This was evident from the way the two wore a smile while discussing the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha election with several political leaders. The discussion was smooth as if the Election Commission had not been rocked by political tremors. Hitherto, the Election Commission has maintained its diginity despite some difference of opinion among the members. The strength of the Election Commission had been instrumental in strengthening the democratic structure in India. Well Gopalaswami is blamed for having exceeded the limits imposed on him by the constitution when he recommended to the President of India seeking removal of Chawla. It does indicate two things. Either the Chief Election Commissioner does not like Chawla or he is angry over possible nexus between Chawla and the Congress. Whatever may have been the provocation the Chief Election Commissioner has by his statements undermined the dignity and the sanctity of the Commission which is as vital pillar for democracy as the Judiciary and the executive are. If the ruling alliance and the opposition want the Election Commission to remain miles away from any political controversy and free from personal prejudices among the members the selection of the CEC and ECs should be made by the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha speaker, Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha,leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the union Law Minister. Hitherto the President of India appoints CEC and ECs on the advice of the council of ministers. The new procedure could limit the scope of sharp differences among the Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner. More important is that political parties should avoid resorting to leg pulling in the court of the Election Commission.
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