The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday demanded the resignation of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla following a report in a television channel that he had taken donations from the local area development funds of Congress members of Parliament.
Chawla had received the donations for trusts run by him and members of his family.
The United Progressive Alliance government appointed Chawla as election commissioner in May 2005, a couple of months before he was due to retire as an IAS officer.
"His proximity to a certain political party and its head was always known. It has now come to light that he had received funds from Congress MPs.
"The Election Commission is a statutory body entrusted with the task of conducting polls in a free and fair manner. If an election commissioner's credentials come under the scanner, one wonders if he will be able to detach himself politically and act in a fair and free manner," BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley said.
Gunning for his removal, Jaitley added, "He does not have to be impeached. The President can remove an election commissioner on the recommendations of the chief election commissioner."
Rubbishing the charge, Chawla said, "No money, whatsoever, not from the MPLAD or from any private person, has been taken ever since I was appointed EC."
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni, R P Goenka, A A Khan, A R Kidwai and Karan Singh are alleged to have donated money to the Trusts run by Chawla and his wife Rupika.
According to the report, while Soni gave Rs 15 lakh, Dr Karan Singh gave Rs 10 lakh and Kidwai Rs 45 lakh.
With PTI inputs
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