New Delhi: Election Commissioner Navin Chawla is almost certain to take over as the next chief of the Election Commission of India. The President has rejected Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami’s recommendation to remove Chawla.
Gopalaswami, in January, wrote to President Pratibha Patil, recommending Chawla's removal for alleged “partisanship”. The President forwarded the letter to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and asked for the government’s view.
The PMO, after getting the Law Ministry’s view on the issue last week, informed the President that Chawla would not be removed.
Archana Dutta, officer on special duty in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, said the President had taken the decision "after careful consideration" of various aspects including a report submitted by Gopalaswami seeking Chawla's removal.
"The President, after careful consideration of the report of the CEC, government recommendations, constitutional provisions, Supreme Court judgments, has arrived at a considered opinion and has accepted the recommendation of the government (to reject Gopalaswami's suggestion)," Dutta told IANS.
Gopalaswamy retires on March 20. As the Lok Sabha polls are slated for April-May this year, Chawla is likely to head the three-member election panel which heads the commission.
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