Date:01/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/01/stories/2006090118421500.htm

National

CPI (M)'s suggestions criticised

Special Correspondent

Supports CPI (M) demand on collegium

Election Commission needs no monitoring body

Step would independence of poll panel

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday criticised the suggestions made by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for reform in the functioning of the Election Commission, even as it said it supported the idea of a three-member non-partisan collegium to appoint Election Commissioners.

Party general secretary and spokesperson Arun Jaitley said the other suggestions put forth by the CPI (M) amounted to a "charter for electoral rigging." He rejected the suggestion that there be a monitoring body which would review the decisions of the Election Commission. That would end the independence of the poll panel, he claimed. By its very nature, the Election Commission should not come under any review or monitoring mechanism of the executive, he said.