Left on trial over Navin Chawla episode: BJP

New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) The BJP today said the ''episode'' of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla has once again put the Left parties on trial and asked the communists to make a judgement whether to ''blindly'' support the Congress or lean in favour of strengthening independent constitutional institutions.

''Mr Chawla's episode will once again put the Left parties on trial. They will have to make a judgement whether to blindly support the constitutionally inappropriate action of the Congress or lean in favour of strengthening independent constitutional institutions,'' BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said in a statement here.

He expressed serious concern over the Centre's decision to seek an amendment in the Constitution to ''ostensibly'' create parity between the three members of the Election Commission and also to make the petition regarding removal of Mr Chawla ''infructuous''.

Mr Jaitley said his party had sought the removal of Mr Chawla from the Election Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 324(5) of the Constitution.

He said the removal has X X X Eds here picking up from para three of DI 19 (POLITICS-BJP-LEAD CHAWLA).

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