Monday, May 9 2005 19:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy, accompanied by two Commissioners B B Tandon and N Gopalaswamy, today (May 9, 2005) met President A P J Abdul Kalam and apprised him of the developments in the wake of charges made by IAS officer L V Saptarishi that the poll watchdog had yielded to BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) pressure to countermand Chapra Lok Sabha poll.

A detailed report was handed over to Kalam outlining the "factual position" that led to countermanding of polls in Chapra Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar as also the reasons for dismissing the allegations of casteism levelled by Saptarishi, who was special poll observer, against Tandon and Gopalaswamy, EC sources said.

Though the CEC's meeting was meant to be "farewell call", the issue cropped up and the three Commissioners explained their position during the 30-minute meeting. Krishnamurthy retires on May 16 and Tandon will take charge as CEC the same day.

The EC had yesterday termed "scurrilous and baseless" Saptarishi's allegations.

Saptarishi alleged Tandon and Gopalaswamy had put pressure to countermand the poll in Chapra contested by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad and the then Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The EC had contended the full Commission passed a unanimous quasi-judicial order on May 10 last year setting out in detail the reasons for countermanding Chapra elections.