Click to play videoNew Delhi: Navin Chawla has taken over as the new Chief Election Commisisoner of India on Tuesday.
He succeeded the preceding CEC, N Gopalaswami, who had earlier recommended his removal from the Election Commission.
Navin Chawla has faced a spate of controversies marring his stint as Election Commissioner.
The new Chief Election Commissioner of India, a 63-year-old Navin B Chawla takes over the top job on a day that the country prepares for the second phase of the general elections.
Chawla is the first CEC to take over in the midst of a Lok Sabha election.
Chawla's elevation comes after a controversy triggered by former CEC N Gopalaswami's recommendation to the President for his removal from office for alleged partisan functioning.
Gopalaswamy believed he did right in asking the President to dismiss Chawla.
CNN-IBN asked him, “Do you believe that the removal of the Election Commisioner other than the CEC can be done at the behest of the CEC? Does the Constitution allow that?”
“Well, according to my understanding, yes, it does,” Gopalaswami had said.
As Election Commissioner, Chawla had often faced flak for alleged bias towards the government and the Congress party.
Chawla was often at loggerheads with Gopalaswami over issues like schedule for the Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir polls, issuing notice to Sonia Gandhi over the Maut ka Saudagar statement made during Gujarat elections and Sonia Gandhi's Belgium Order of the Leopold controversy.
Chawla recently steered clear and refused to court controversy when he denied a comment on his verbal sparring with Goplaswami.
"For me the dignity of the Election Commission is paramount. I am not going to give any answer to this matter,” Chawla had said.
Chawla's tenure will be keenly watched as the BJP is expected to target him at every opportunity. The party has already made it known that it are extremely unhappy with his appointment because it cannot hope for impartial treatment from him.
Chawla has earlier served as secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
He has also served as Secretary to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and will remain CEC till June 29, 2010.
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