I won’t resign, asserts Chawla
By IANSFriday, January 30, 2009
NEW DELHI - Election Commissioner Navin Chawla Saturday said he had no intention of resigning following Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami’s move to remove him on grounds that he was partisan.
‘Why should I resign?’ Chawla told IANS. ‘We have to conduct the (coming) general elections unitedly and with dignity.’
Chawla spoke hours after a newspaper reported that Gopalaswami had suggested to President Pratibha Patil that Chawla should be eased out of the Election Commission.
‘I have no idea about the letter. I am not aware about this (letter),’ he added.
‘The Election Commission has delivered flawless elections to the country for the last several years. We will continue to do so,’ Chawla said.
‘The dignity of the Election Commission is paramount at all times,’ he added. He said he had no intention of putting in his papers in the wake of Gopalaswami’s recommendation.
Chawla is tipped to succeed Gopalaswami as CEC in April this year.
