CEC Gopalaswami retired

21-04-09 N. Goplaswami on April 20, 2009 made his final bow from the Election Commission after an eventful tenure wishing "a very bright tenure" for his successor Navin Chawla, whom he had wanted to be removed only not long ago. "
 

The Election Commission gave their boss of three years a farewell which was attended by Chawla and another colleague S Y Quraishi.
 

"I take leave from all of you in the Commission. At this point of time, let me wish Chawla all the best and a very bright tenure as the Chief Election Commissioner," Gopalaswami told reporters as he posed for photographs with Chawla and Quraishi at the EC office here.
 

He also said Chawla will be able to "successfully" complete the election procedure and "make its (Commission's) mark in the country's electoral history". Chawla will succeed Gopalaswami as the Chief Election Commissioner.

Gopalaswami appeared to trigger another controversy towards the fag end of his tenure when he is understood to have pressed for further enquiry into Congress President Sonia Gandhi receiving Belgium's second highest civilian award "Order of Leopold" during her visit there in November 2006.
 

Chawla and Quraishi are understood to have recommended that the enquiry was complete and no further action was called for.

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