Quraishi’s slip of tongue hints at split in poll panel

Election commissioner SY Quraishi’s remark in London hinting at the general election between April 8 and May 15 may not have been a slip of the tongue as a hasty clarification from Nirvachan Sadan suggested. According to a government source, the comment may have been a ploy to corner chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami.

The CEC is said to be keen to complete the election before he retires on April 20, but the other two commissioners prefer a later schedule. The UPA also prefers polls after mid-April.

The commissioners have been talking informally to various political leaders on the issue, the source said. A formal meeting is scheduled for February 3.

The tug-of-war in the election commission has intensified amid reports that the UPA has zeroed in on two possible successors to Gopa-laswami—law secretary TK Vishwanathan and home secretary Madhukar Gupta.

If the polls begin around mid-April, the process would be presided over by Navin Chawla, who would take Gopalaswami’s place as CEC. Chawla would remain CEC for a year as he completes 65 years in July 2010.

Election commissioners are appointed for six years or till they attain the age of 65, whichever is earlier.