If can't question EC, should we pray to it, asks Congress's Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday demanded to know that "if citizens cannot question" the Election Commission (EC), should they "pray" to it.

"If citizens cannot question the EC, please tell us who can? And what should citizens do, pray to the EC?" asked the former finance minister.



He was responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Sunday had hit out at the Congress for questioning the election body+ for not announcing the Gujarat poll schedule with that of Himachal Pradesh.

"The Congress has no moral right to question the EC," news agency PTI had quoted Modi as saying.

Referring to the recent Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat in which Congress leader Ahmed Patel won, the PM had said that the former had done "something, after which a recount took place in which they won."

"In the recent election, votes were counted and TV channels were showing who is the victor, but they (Congress) did something, after which a recount took place in which they won," Modi had said. "Those who won in the recount are now asking the Election Commission why Modi is going to Gujarat."

Chidambaram reacted to this accusation by saying that "Congress complained to EC before counting began. There was only one count, no recount. Ask EC."


This is not the first time Chidambaram has taken to Twitter to question the delay in the announcement of dates for the state elections.

In a sarcastic jibe on Friday, he had tweeted: EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed).

The Congress, too, in a press conference today, accused the EC and the BJP of 'plotting' to allegedly delay the Assembly elections in Gujarat.


(With inputs from PTI)