BJP hopes Lok Sabha elections will be transparent

Alluding to the likely appointment of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla as the poll panel chief in the midst of the LS polls, the BJP hoped the body would uphold its reputation and conduct polls in a transparent manner.

Alluding to the likely appointment of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla as the poll panel chief in the midst of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP on Monday hoped the body would uphold its reputation and conduct polls in a transparent manner.

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"Many CECs and ECs have come and gone but this great legacy (of transparency of the Commission) has only become stronger and stronger, day by day. We hope and trust that this strong legacy...Shall and will continue with the passage of time," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

He was talking to reporters soon after the announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission.

Welcoming the announcement of five-phase elections, Prasad said, "In the last 19 years, the Election Commission has occupied a very unique position of trust and respect by the civil society and the polity of the country."

BJP had earlier opposed the likely appointment of Chawla to the top post, alleging that he was too close to the Congress and his family was a beneficiary of party's largesse in the past. Chawla, the senior-most EC, is likely to take over on April 20 when CEC N Gopalaswamy retires.

The BJP MP evaded a comment on whether the party would pursue the case against Chawla since the President has refused permission to take action against him. "We will discuss the issue and take a call," he said.