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"Why should I resign," he shot back when asked by reporters whether he would quit in the wake of Gopalaswami's recommendation to the President for his removal.
He refused to comment on the CEC's recommendation, saying he was not aware of any letter written to the President. Asked about his next step, Chawla said, "We have to conduct general elections and so we must continue to work in that direction."
He said the Commission has conducted "flawless" elections for the past several years and "We will continue to do so."
Earlier, he had said that "The dignity of the Commission is paramount."
The controversy has erupted nearly two months before Gopalaswami's tenure ends. Chawla, the senior-most Election Commissioner, was considered as the natural choice for the top post when Gopalaswami demits office on April 20.
Gopalaswami recommends Chawla's removal
Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami has recommended to the government removal of the other Election Commissioner Navin Chawla.
The recommendation comes about three months before Gopalaswami is to demit office on April 20 and is based on a petition by the BJP which had complained against the "partisan" functioning of Chawla. Gopalaswami said that "he had only done his job."
The Chief Election Commissioner's recommendation ahead of the general elections brings to the fore the differences among the three-member body which has often been marred by clashes over crucial decisions.
The recommendation comes about three months before Gopalaswami is to demit office on April 20 and is based on a petition by the BJP which had complained against the "partisan" functioning of Chawla.
The BJP meanwhile demanded "firm action" on the issue saying the "credibility" of the poll panel is "at stake". "The credibility of the Election Commission is at stake with the CEC asking for the sacking of one of its members to the President," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
He also demanded firm action on the issue, saying the development poses a threat to the democratic fabric of the country. "The Election Commission is now mired in controversy. In absence of a firm action, the fairness of the Commission would become a suspect, posing a threat to democracy and Constitution," he added.
Only last year, Chawla had raised serious objections to the holding of the Karnataka assembly elections in May but was overruled by a 2-1 division in the Commission.
(With PTI inputs)
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It would be simply foolish to expect Chawla to resign. If had that much self-respect, he would not have behaved in such partisan manner in the first place. Chawla is part of a great evil scheme by Congress to have Yesmen in all institutions. CBI, President, Court, Governors, Election Commission etc. With billions of dollars belonging to the poor indians being stashed away
I dont think anything is wrong with Navin Chavla. He and CEC must be having some personal enemity. CEC has recommended removal of chawla for settling some personal scores. Chavla has done great duty to nation through out his tenue
Until recently, the common man believed that the institutions like Judiciary, CBI, the Military and the Election Commission discharge their duties in an unbiased and non-partisan manner. But, the conflicting observations of two High Court Judges in Kerala regarding the CBI inquiry into the Abhaya case has cast some doubts about the impartiality of not only the CBI, but also of the Judiciary. The various reports of "Safron infiltration of the military" after the arrest of a serving officer in connection with the Malegaon blasts has made ordinary people to genuinely doubt whether the Military is indeed impartial. The only remaining institution was the EC. In view of the allegations against Mr. Chawla, the government would be well advised to transfer him to some other position where impartiality does not matter much and appoint another person who can be trusted to be completely unbiased, say a retired SC judge, to maintain the credibility of the EC, irrespective of whether Mr. Chawla is impartial or not.
This is what was exactly expected from a person like Navin Chawla. He has proved beyond doubt that he is a stooge of the Congress Party. Morality can be expected only from people with character and not from the likes of Chawla. Democratic norms, the constituional provisions and public image are things of the past. With Navin Chawla at the helm in EC, we can get elections rigged in future. Thanks to the Congress Party and UPA.
Any guesses why the trio (Rajdeep,Barkha,Arnab) have not taken up the Chawla issue so far ? Anyway, no marks for the correct guess.
You are absolutely right, they are too the stooges of Congress, remeber Barkha conferring NDTV person of the year on guess who? you are right.
The Congress has always manipulated the Judiciary,EC and other institutions. This democracy is not a true democracy. It rewarded Mr Gill ex Election commissioner with Sports Ministry. Now Navin Chwala. It has thrown out honest officers like Ms Kiran Bedi. What the common man can expects from such party. Mr Gopal swami is right. Mr Chwala should quit.
Sorry,if I add a few more,Justice Ranganathan, Justice Banerjee remember these thorough gentlemen, one in Delhi Sikh case and another in Godhra Burning Train
Even big problems can be solved with very simple solutions. If Chawla creates a problem, by being partial towards one political party and biased and/or prejudiced against another political party, the remaining two commissioners (including CEC) can administratively castrate Chawla and give him some clerical/ministerial/ peon jobs. Very simple. If Chawla wants to contest such an arrangement, then let him appeal the issue to the Supreme Court, to override the administrative decision of the two commissioners. commissioners. Why make a big fuss about this issue? The solution is ease him out is simple.
Sirthe CEC's choice of time for dismissal of another EC is a calculated strategy to prove his nearness to NDA-his appointee.
Italy in March 2005, gave Mazzini award for his service to Christianity. Navin Chawla has authored two books on Mother Teresa ‘Mother Teresa’ and ‘Faith and Compassion – The Life and Work of Mother Teresa’ At the time of Indian Emergency (1975 - 77) he was secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Shah Commission which inquired into the excesses during the Emergency, indicted Mr Chawla for having been 'authoritarian and callous' and for gross misuse of power "in cynical disregard of the welfare of citizens". Further, it declared that he was "unfit to hold any public office which demands an attitude of fair play and consideration for others" Election Commissioner and his wife Rupika ran the Jaipur-based Lala Chaman Lal Education Trust which had secured MPLADS funds from Congress MPs A.A. Khan, R.P. Goenka, Ambika Soni, Dr Karan Singh and Mr A.R. Kidwai.The trust was allotted six acres of land by the Congress government in Rajasthan when Mr Ashok Gehlot was the Chief Minister.
In our Nation some problems are their. Some people are taken action on the opposit side party. India is Great Nation in the world. Therefor people take a decision in Nations faviour ,not to take for selfish fever.
Chawla has created a wrong presidency by siding political parties. He is cutting the route of our democracy.
N. GOPALASWAMI - A DICTATOR
cec is only first among the three e. cimmissioners. He can not recommend hiring and firing of the other e.commissioners. if it is allowed then there is no escape from one of the future cec misusing it and manuplating the other two ec to his own whims and fancies. all three ec are independent and have equal voting rights on any issue. Therefore including cec has no right to recommend for or against any of his colleagues. Government should not accept the recommendations. Senior most ec must take over cec post when available.
Mr.Chawla wants to be sacked rather than resigning. Hope sustains life.
What a sorry state the Election Commission has sunk to. And Sonia and Manmohan' s Govt. is allowing this state to continue. Sad and disgusting, indeed.
Try him if he is guilty. recommendation and resignation indicates nothing but internal fued.
Mr. Natkhat Chawala.... if you have some shame left in you.....just quit. Nation does not need a corrupt officer like you.... when your Boss is complaining.....,
This shameless election commissioner will not resign his post unless he is thrown out of the office by termination. Any dignified person will quit automatically but this person is bent upon helping the congress in the upcoming election.
I can bet anyone that the Government will not take any action against the Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, whose removal has been recommended to the Government by CEC N Gopalaswami on the basis of Navin Chawla's congress sided administrative decisions. Chawla is actually a congress party rep in the election commission. Congress sow the seed some time back is going to reap the harvest in the next genearal election.
Chawla should leave with honour and his past association with congress party has brought him to this position. Shri Gopalaswamy has done the right thing in the interest of the country.
CEC also owes an explanation to the ation as to why he took so much time on the main opposition party s complaint on chawala s appointment because of the partisanship feared due to the proximity ofthe family members to the ruling estt/vnramachandran/baroda
We all must uphold the constitutional sanctity of CEC. Always bordering on regular
If he has any self respect
The recommendation of CEC has been done at the behest of BJP as he had been appointed by the previous government .It has been done to create a constitutional crisis before he retires as he is sure that he will not be given an extension by the central govt. He has lowered the dignity of the post of CEC.
Without prejudice, When Ministers who are under a cloud do not resign, why should the EC resign? Both need to support each other!! Gone are the times when moral responsibility was paramount to public service.
The previous hisotry of Navin Chawla has aleready established that he is pro-congress and can never be trussted to be impartial. However considering the ineffectiveness of Manmohana Singh, and the interest of the party in the coming Loksabha election. Sonia Gandhi will nottake any congnisance of Gopalswamys letter. The presdient is a nobody and will not dare go against Soniia Gandhi. On the contrary efforts will be made to malign Gopalswamy by inventing some of his lapses in the past.