Chidambaram slams Modi for 'outrageous' attack on EC

Holding that by and large, the elections have taken place peacefully, he said the EC has done a “tremendous job, a splendid job”.

At the same time, he said there are some aspects of rules and regulations which people can disagree with, but the overall job done by the EC is tremendous.  Chidambaram's remarks came as BJP today mounted an all-out attack on the EC over refusal of permission to Modi for holding a rally in Varanasi.

Modi, a candidate in the Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi, questioned the poll panel's neutrality even as protests were held in Varanasi and in Delhi demanding removal of the Returning Officer.

On BJP's objection to the EC allowing a roadshow in Varanasi while not giving permission to a BJP rally, Chidambaram said the EC has already made a statement regarding it and if BJP is not happy, it should approach the poll panel.  He dismissed a question about Rahul Gandhi's reported presence in an EVM enclosure in Amethi, saying he cannot say whether norms were violated or not.

“I don't know. There is a polling officer and a Returning Officer. It is for the EC to see,” the Congress leader said.