GVG told to keep off press

A rather subdued Krishnamurthy today told journalists at his residence that he was calling off his leave and returning to office. The end of the past week’s soap operaesque episodes and Krishna murthy’s expected turnaround left people wondering what the sound and fury had been all about.

Suddenly remembering “the interest of the country, the expectations of the nation and the responsibilities of the Election Commission in conducting Parliamentary polls,” Krishnamurthy said he had decided to let bygones be bygones and to forgive and forget.

Indeed, the reversal of his position was so complete that he recalled his “distinguished colleague”, the CEC’s “valuable contributions” in the past four years.

Earlier, Krishnamurthy accused Gill of being “soft” on the Shiv Sena by not taking the party to task on the lack of inner-party democracy in the Sena. Gill questioned Krishnamurthy’s wisdom in going to the press on the issue, especially since the Commission had ordered Sena chief Bal Thackeray to appear before the constitutional body on December 24.

Promising to “jointly and collectively do our best,” Krishnamurthy today assured that “every ounce of energy” would be utilised to ensure the successful conduct of the general elections.

At the end of the brouhaha, it was Gill who held the aces. The EC’s order, taken while Krishnamurthy was on leave, that only the CEC would be authorised to address the media, has removed all ambiguity if there was any, about the hierarchy in Nirvachan Sadan.

The decision is a blow for Krishnamurthy who never usually misses an opportunity to speak to an ever-insatiable media.