Election Commission

— President Pratibha Patil has rightly rejected the controversial suo motu recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner, N Gopalaswami for removal of his colleague, Election Commissioner, Nabin Chawla for his alleged bias for a particular political party on the basis of a petition filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party which was constitutionally incorrect. The government after considering all aspects of the matter recommended to the President to reject the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The President acted as per recommendation of the Government, constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court judgement and rejected the recommendation of the retiring Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswami, paving the way for the senior most Election Commissioner, Nabin Chawla to succeed him as the Chief Election Commissioner on April 20 next. N Gopalaswami, who during his tenure as the Chief Election commissioner, conducted several elections in a remarkably peaceful, efficient and transparent manner earning kudos from all concerned would now leave the Nirvachan Sadan as the man responsible for damaging the institutional prestige of the Election Commission.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which initiated the move to remove Nabin Chawla as the Election Commissioner, first by filing a petition in the Supreme Court and later through the good offices of sympathetic Chief Election Commissioner, N Gopalaswami had expressed doubt about the neutrality of Nabin Chawla. If the coming 15th Lok Sabha results go against their expectations, Nabin Chawla who would be in charge for the last four phases of election would again be the prime target of attack. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar have little respect for constitutional authorities. In 2002 Gujarat election after the genocide in the state. The then Chief Election Commissioner, James Michael Lyngdoh became the target of attack of the Sangh Parivar and particularly of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. Modi used to mention the full name of the CEC to emphasise his religious denomination and made the preposterous statement that JM Lyngdoh being a Catholic he used to meet Sonia Gandhi, another Catholic at Sunday Church congregation and take orders from her. Even the high office of the Prime Minister was repeatedly demeaned by the Prime Ministerial aspirant, LK Advani who described Dr Manmohan Singh as the weakest Prime Minister. Such mud slinging would continue during the election campaign but the leaders should exercise restraint in attacking their political opponent and constitutional authorities. Assam Tribune