Sunday, March 12 2006 11:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stepping up its campaign against Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, NDA leaders are planning to meet President A P J Abdul Kalam here next week with a memorandum signed by over 200 MPs demanding his removal for alleged links with the Congress party.

A total of 225 MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha belonging to the BJP-led Opposition alliance have already signed the memorandum, BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra told sources.

"Talks are on with TDP and AIADMK to join the signature campaign", he said.

The detailed memorandum accuses Chawla of having links with the Congress and urges the President to impress upon the Chief Election Commissioner to recommend his removal. Alleging that Chawla became Election Commissioner because of his 'proximity' to the Congress, it cites several instances to substantiate its allegations against him on his role during Emergency as Secretary to the then Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi.

An NDA delegation led by Advani had met the President earlier too on February 14 and sought his intervention to ensure Chawla's exit from the poll panel.