Advani urges a speedy decision on Navin Chawla

Surat, Apr 9: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader L K Advani today appealed again to the President A P J Abdul Kalam to seek the CEC's views on the MPs' petition against Election Commissioner Navin Chawla and take an early decision if he should continue to hold his office.

Talking to mediapersons on the fourth day of 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra,' Mr Advani said Article 325 (5) of the Constitution was clear in this regard and the Chief Election Commissioner was the only authority the President has consult on on the petition made against Mr Chawla and decide if he was a fit person to hold Election Commissioner's post.

He said the BJP and the NDA leaders had met President thrice on the issue and called on Dr Kalam to discharge his constitutional responsibility peedily. ''The Constitution is clear on the issue...

the Prime Minister does not come into the picture on the decision for the removal of a tainted Election Commissioner.'' Mr Advai noted that the President should be take into consideration the advice of the Prime Minister and the Union Cabinet to dissolve the Bihar Assembly, which had resulted in the Supreme Court not just admonishing the then Bihar Governor Buta Singh but also the Union Cabinet. ''The PM had obtained the President's consent for the Bihar Assembly dissolution when he was on a visit abroad,'' he alleged.

UNI