Tuesday, March 8 2005 15:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) feels that lack of political will is stymying efforts to bar those with criminal background from contesting elections.

It also feels that the recent elections in Bihar were the "most challenging" but it could conduct "absolutely free and fair polls" in that State, Jharkhand and Haryana despite "local problems".

Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy was unfazed by attacks on the Commission by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Chief Laloo Prasad and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala saying they do not know the "seriousness" of conducting free and fair polls.

"Candidates against whom chargesheets have been framed by competent courts for certain serious offences should be disqualified from contesting elections. These recommendations have been made more than once to the Government.

"It is very unfortunate that there is no political consensus to bring about a quick legislation in this regard. So long as a law is not amended, this problem will continue to be in existence", he told sources in New Delhi today in a wide-ranging interview, the first after the completion of crucial Assembly polls in the three States.

Asked as to why the EC's recommendation was not being implemented, Murthy said, "Political will seems to be not there. I am not blaming any particular party but all parties. They should realise the seriousness of this problem. The sooner it is better for the system."

The CEC was responding to questions on several candidates with criminal background being given tickets by major political parties to contest polls in the recent Assembly elections in the three States, particularly Bihar.

Observing that EC often received bouquets from the winners and brickbats from the losers, Murthy, who would be demitting office on May 15 said, "We are very happy that we could conduct absolutely a free and fair polls in the three States inspite of so many difficulties".

Though the Commission wanted to have a one-day poll in Bihar, it could not do so because of lack of adequate para military forces, the CEC said adding, "In some States, electoral violence is very common and we need extra forces."

Preferring to describe Assembly polls in the sensitive Bihar as "most challenging" rather than "toughest", Murthy said that there were plenty of difficulties.

"In Bihar we had to take care of extremist violence and factors of caste politics and criminality. I do not wish to go into details. We needed to take some strong steps to ensure that the voters were free to come out and exercise their franchise. By and large we succeeded", he said.