'Why collegium to pick EC not there in NDA rule?'

Law minister Salman Khurshid today refused to get drawn into the demand of LK Advani to set up a collegium system to appoint Election Commissioners but hit out at the BJP leader questioning whether the same criterion was applied during the NDA rule.

Law minister Salman Khurshid today refused to get drawn into the demand of L K Advani to set up a collegium system to appoint Election Commissioners but hit out at the BJP leader questioning whether the same criterion was applied during the NDA rule.

He said since Advani's letter is addressed to the Prime Minister, "I am sure he will take a view and convey it to Advani...I cannot convey anything to the media."

He was responding to questions on the demand made by Advani.

The Law minister also took a dig at Advani, saying that during NDA's tenure the then Home minister must have appointed four to five ECs. "Has he reconsidered that the decision (to appoint ECs during his tenure) was not correct before writing to the Prime Minister," he said.

Advani's suggestion for a collegium to appoint Election Commissioners and CAG has received the backing of UPA ally DMK and opposition CPI(M).

DMK chief M Karunanidhi said the BJP leader's views could not be ignored and expressed confidence that the Centre would accord due importance to it.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has said that his party agreed with Advani that there should be a collegium for appointments of Election Commissioners and CAG on the pattern of Chief Vigilance Commissioner.

Advani had in a letter to the Prime Minister on Sunday voiced concern over the present system of appointment by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

He had suggested that posts like Election Commissioner and Comptroller and Auditor General of India be appointed by a "broad-based collegium," comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, the Law minister and the Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.