DMK chief M Karunanidhi backs Advani's view on collegium to appoint CAG, Election Commissioner

CHENNAI: Backing L K Advani's suggestion for a collegium to appoint Election Commissioners and CAG, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday said the BJP leader's views could not be ignored and expressed confidence that the Centre would accord due importance to it.

"I am also in agreement with the contents in the letter (of Advani). It cannot be ignored just because it is the opposition view," the DMK patriarch said writing in the party mouthpiece Murasoli.

Karunanidhi, whose DMK is a key UPA ally, said, "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the central government will accord importance to the opinion and consider those views."

Advani, in a letter to the Prime Minister on Sunday, had voiced concern over the present system of appointment by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

He had suggested that posts like Election Commissioner and Comptroller and Auditor General of India be appointed by the "broad-based collegium," comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, the law minister and the Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Advani had written to the Prime Minister suggesting opposition involvement in selection of CEC and CAG, saying the current system was open to "manipulation and partisanship".