Gill defends call for CMs8217; resignation

NEW DELHI, August 27: Giving a spirited defence of his call for the resignation of chief ministers prior to the elections, Chief Election...

NEW DELHI, August 27: Giving a spirited defence of his call for the resignation of chief ministers prior to the elections, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill today stuck to his guns saying it would ensure a neutral administration conducive to a fair poll.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress having categorically opposed the EC8217;s suggestion, Gill and his two Commission colleagues G V G Krishnamurty and J G Lyngdoh presented a united front in maintaining that the 8220;issue still remains8221;.

Explaining the rationale behind asking chief ministers of the states going to the polls later this year to become 8220;tyagamurtis8217; and resign from their posts, Gill told a press conference that all political parties fear that the government and local administration were not going to be fair to them, especially where they are in the opposition.

8220;It is our job to to throw up ideas to improve the efficacy of the system,8221; Gill said. He added that despite rejection of the suggestion by the political parties, the issue continued to be relevant, but that ultimately it was up to legislators to make the decisions.

8220;It is their impression and not our invention. These parties have often enough said that they have no faith in the state administration and police for ensuring impartial polls,8221; the chief election commissioner added. Of the four states going to the polls this year, Delhi and Rajasthan are BJP-ruled states whereas Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram are headed by Congress governments.

Buttressing Gill8217;s arguments, Krishnamurty hit out at the political parties which had objected to the Chief Election Commissioner8217;s proposal. 8220;If we cannot raise this as an Election Commission, then who else can?,8221; he wanted to know. 8220;It is our duty to suggest reforms so that the system is changed for the better,8221; he said. The Commissioners said they were convinced that any system requires reform periodically and after 50 years of independence, it was time to look at ways at finessing the existing electoral rules.Ensuring a 8220;dynamic neutrality8221; so that no party has an undue advantage at the time of the elections was the foremost objective of the Commission, they stressed.

Giving the example of polls in Jammu and Kashmir while under governor8217;s rule, Krishnamurty said officers were encourages to act in a 8220;dispassionate manner8221;.

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The CEC also told journalists that for the first time electronic voting machines would be used in 16 selected urban constituencies during the upcoming Assembly elections.

Six constituencies from Delhi, five constituencies in the urban centres of Jaipur and Alwar in Rajasthan and another five from Bhopal and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh will use the machines.