Don't make EC an object of public ridicule: Law Minister

In an indication of government's thinking that it may not accept the CEC's recommendation for removal of his colleague Navin Chawla, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj on Monday said N Gopalaswami should do his job in the EC and not behave like a "political boss".
Speaking to NDTV's senior managing editor Sonia Singh, the Law Minister said the Election Commission should not become an object of public ridicule due to this controversy and contended that the CEC has no powers to make a recommendation for Chawla's removal.
Bhardwaj also said that Navin Chawla will be the next Chief Election Commissioner in due course.
Bhardwaj said he had received a file on the matter. "I have to see what is new in the matter," he said, adding the internal tussle within the Election Commission has been going on ever since Chawla was appointed to the post of Election Commissioner.
"Gopalaswami should do his work in EC and not become a political boss," he said on the sidelines of a conference here.
Asked if the government had taken any decision on the Chief Election Commissioner's recommendation to remove Chawla, he said "When a decision is taken, we will inform you," adding "the EC's role is to prepare electoral rolls and not to settle scores".