Quraishi & law min consulted

NEW DELHI: Jurists and political observers who have been questioning CEC N Gopalaswami���s timing and motive in seeking election commissioner Navin Chawla���s removal on grounds of ���political bias��� may have to redraw their strategy.

It now transpires that the CEC had been corresponding with his poll panel colleague and the law ministry, and it was only after receiving their replies that he decided to make the recommendation in January this year. Mr Gopalaswami, official sources said, had first written to Mr Chawla way back on July 21, 2008, before recommending his removal to President Pratibha Patil.

Mr Chawla, on his part, had sought clarifications from the Union law ministry on the CEC's power, to which the ministry said in November 2008 that the CEC did not have suo-motu powers to recommend a fellow-poll panel member���s removal. To this, Mr Gopalaswami responded by asserting that the government had no locus-standi on the issue. His letter to the President alleges that Mr Chawla lacks ���political neutrality.��� The letter also mentions that the third member of EC, Mr S Y Quraishi was also under ���immense pressure,��� but he took ���correct decisions���.