Credibility of EC is at stake, says BJP

Agencies

New Delhi: With Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami recommending the removal of his colleague Navin Chawla for being close to Congress, BJP has demanded stern action on the issue saying the credibility of the poll panel is at stake.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the EC was mired in controversy and in the absence of a firm action, the fairness of it would become a suspect, posing a threat to democracy and Constitution.

Gopalaswami has recommended the removal of the other Election Commissioner Navin Chawla to the government. 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 had alleged that Chawla was close to the Congress party.