MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Election Commissioner, Nand Lal, against whom the State Assembly admitted a "breach of privilege motion," said here on Wednesday that the move was politically motivated.

Mr. Lal said at a press conference that the State Government had no powers to interfere in elections and that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh would not be able to bring any pressure on him.

Last Monday, a ruling party legislator, Janardan Chandurkar moved a "breach of privilege" motion against Mr. Lal, alleging that he had sought to change a law made by the Legislature by ordering that the election for office-bearers of local self-governments, including municipal corporations, be held under his supervision and not that of the State Government as was the practice in Maharashtra. Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar admitted the motion and referred it to the Privilege Committee.

Mr. Lal said he was only implementing a Constitutional provision and laws passed by the State Legislature. Throughout the country, the State Election Commissioner was entrusted to hold such polls. He also alleged that the Government was not allowing elections as per the Constitution due to political reasons.

Denying the allegation made against him in the privilege motion, Mr. Lal said, being an independent Constitutional authority, he would not respond to the privilege motion in any manner. "I am not subordinate to either the State Executive or the Legislature."

Challenging Mr. Chandurkar to make the allegation against him outside Assembly, Mr. Lal said anyone intervening in his work would attract criminal proceedings.

He alleged that the Maharashtra Government was not providing sufficient staff and financial grants to the State Election Commission. "This year, 10 municipal corporations, 117 municipalities, 27 zilla parishads and 310 panchayat samitis are going to poll and the SEC had sought Rs. 8 lakh for poll preparations in different districts, but the Government sanctioned only Rs. 3.20 lakh."

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