Chautala defies EC on DGP, hint of climbdown

He said he was considering filing a petition in the Supreme Court against the EC order. Addressing a press conference in the Capital, Chautala added that he wouldn’t give any panel of names to the EC for a new DGP either. ‘‘Let the Election Commission appoint a DGP, I am not going to furnish them any panel of names.’’

However, later in the evening, indicating an apparent climbdown, Chief Secretary A N Mathur said: ‘‘We are sending a panel consisting name of senior IPS officers to the EC…The CM is out of Chandigarh for the next two days. After he clears the names of the police officers, it would be sent to the EC shortly.’’

Earlier, the EC had promised there would be action on Chautala’s defiance. ‘‘We know what we will do. You should wait for our action. Our orders have to be respected,’’ Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said in Chandigarh. One of the options being considered is moving the Supreme Court.

Questioning the logic for Malik’s transfer, Chautala blamed the BJP, and more specifically Union Home Minister L K Advani, for ‘‘influencing’’ the order.

‘‘The way the EC has taken the decision, it’s clear that the Deputy Prime Minister is behind it,’’ he said.

With an acrimonious split with the BJP just behind him, the INLD chief also let it drop that the Union Home Ministry had sought Z-plus security cover for the BJP candidate, Krishen Singh Sangwan, who is taking on Krishna Malik in Sonepat.

Chautala’s argument is that the EC had acted ‘‘arbitrarily’’ against a candidate who is yet to file her nomination. ‘‘What if tomorrow Krishna Malik’s nomination is rejected? What if she dies tomorrow?’’ the Haryana CM asked.

He also claimed that Krishna’s was not a unique case, giving the example of Sukhwinder Singh Bhinder who had contested elections in Punjab while her husband was the DIG.

Surprising as it was, Chautala’s refusal to comply with the SC order was what he had threatened to do three weeks ago when parties first raised questions about the propriety of the DGP’s wife contesting elections on a ruling-party ticket.

‘‘If DGP Malik needs to be removed from his post, why not me too? After all my son Ajay Chautala is also contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Bhiwani. I can also misuse power to his benefit,’’ Chautala had retorted.

Earlier, he had surprised many in his own party by announcing Krishna’s candidature at an election rally even before the formal annoucement of his own son’s name from Bhiwani.