NEW DELHI: India’s chief election commissioner, T N Seshan, said on Thursday that demands by political parties for his impeachments will not make him step down from his post.
“The thought of relinquishing my post has not passed through my mind. There is no question of my resigning”, he told reporters at an informal get-together here.
Seshan said “I have taken note of all the views expressed against me and the moves for my impeachment”.
He said he had told a newsman who telephoned him asking for his reaction on his reported resignation that it was “balderdash”.
The CEC refused to offer any comment on an interview given by the Punjab governor Gen (retd) OP Malhotra who had submitted his resignation to the president in protest against postponement of Punjab polls to Sept 25.
Seshan parried all questions on the poll postponement by three months in Punjab except for reiterating that “the accumulation of information available with the commission was not consistent with the conclusion that a free and fair poll can be held in the state.
The CEC’s stand on Punjab elections has earned him a lot of flak from almost all parties.
Seshan said he had no comment to offer to the allegation by some political parties that the timing of his decision was made to coincide with the Congress (I) government coming to power.
“My judgment of the situation in Punjab was based on the totality of evidence”, he said.
Seshan refused to specify the evidence leading to his taking a sudden decision.
“I have tried to explain the reasons to the best of my ability” Seshan said when newsmen pointed out that his explanation left room for speculation.
Seshan did not agree with a newsman that the decisions he had taken during the elections had been controversial. “I have taken the decisions as and when I have been called upon to do my duty”.
He also refused to answer a question as to why he had not thought it fit to consult the govt on postponing the Punjab poll if his understanding with the govt was as good as he had stated to be. The BJP reiterated here on Monday that the chief election commissioner, Mr T.N, Seshan, must go.
When asked at his daily briefing whether the party favored the impeachment of Mr Seshan now that the national executive of the Janata Dal had asserted that he should either resign or face impeachments, the BJP vice-president. Mr K.R.Malkani, remarked: “We were the first to ask for his resignation. We stand by our position that the man must go.
Mr Makani said if Mr Seshan did not quit the BJP’s parliamentary Party would decide about the impeachment.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 5, 1991
