Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy told journalists in Delhi on Sunday that the decision to countermand the Chapra polls was unanimous and there was no debate at any point of time.

Murthy on Sunday chaired a meeting of the commission to discuss the situation arising from the allegations of Indian Administrative Service officer L V Saptarishi.

"I am shocked and surprised by the allegations. It should not have happened in the first place," he said.

Saptarishi, who was Special Observer to the Chapra polls, in a letter to the Union law minister, alleged that polls were countermanded at the behest of Bharatiya Janata Party chief L K Advani in collusion with Election Commissioners B B Tandon and N Gopalswamy.

"The Commission considers it beneath its dignity to respond to such baseless allegations made to single out the two ECs," the EC press note read.

The Commission also believes that the order of the May 10, 2004 countermanding the polls in Bihar's Chapra Lok Sabha constituency is self-explanatory.

The order was signed unanimously by all the three members including Murthy.

The order posted on the EC website narrates the reasons that led to the decision. These include opening of voting registers, non-deployment of paramilitary forces at several places in the constituency and booths remaining totally unguarded.

Earlier reports:
Lalu seeks two ECs' resignation
EC issue: BJP questions official's motive