Navin Chawla is all set to become the next Chief Election Commissioner of India as President Pratibha Patil has rejected N Gopalaswami’s recommendation to remove Chawla. The out going Chief Election Commissioner, N Gopalaswami will end his tenure on April 20 after which Navin Chawla will hold the office.

 

According to a spokesperson of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Archana Dutta, President Pratibha Patil has taken the decision after evaluating the reports of Gopalaswami, government’s recommendation, constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court judgment. Pratibha Patil has rejected Gopalaswami's plea after the advice of law ministry. Earlier in January when the controversy broke out law minister H R Bharadwaj criticised Gopalaswami and firmly recommended Navin Chawla's name for the top post of EC.