Tandon takes over as CEC

Senior-most Election Commissioner BB Tandon today assumed charge as the 14th chief election commissioner and said the recent controversy over allegations levelled by a senior bureaucrat was a "deliberate and calculated attempt to denigrate and undermine the credibility and political neutrality" of the poll body.

"The developments over the last one week have been most unfortunate. I have been greatly pained and hurt over these developments since May 7 in which wild and baseless allegations have been levelled against me and my esteemed colleague N Gopalaswami," he said after taking over the new assignment.

The "scurrilous" charges that they made certain derogatory remarks against a particular community and wanted to teach a lesson to a particular leader was "most reprehensive," Tandon, a 1965 batch IAS officer, said referring to accusations levelled by bureaucrat LV Saptharishi.

As the CEC for one year till June next year, Tandon would conduct Assembly polls in five states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

"I feel this was a deliberate and calculated attempt to denigrate and undermine the credibility, political neutrality and fair-mindedness of the poll panel, which has made a niche for itself in the democratic system of our country, a fact widely recognised throughout the country as well as internationally," he said.

As the CEC for one year till June next year, Tandon would conduct Assembly polls in five states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Navin B Chawla, a 1969 batch IAS officer, also took over as an election commissioner.