New Delhi, Apr 21: Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla on Tuesday was accused by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of working on the directions of the Congress.

Responding to Mayawati's allegations, Chawla reminded her that she herself had appreciated the conduct of the 2007 Assembly elections.

Talking to reporters here, Chawla said, "Ms Mayawati herself had come to the Election Commission on a Sunday in 2007 and spent one hour (with us) and congratulated the EC for conducting a free, fair and transparent election (in the state)."

Brushing aside Mayawati's criticism, he said: "The UP elections was a watershed election as you know. I don''''t want to say anything further."

Mayawati, in a press briefing in Lucknow, blamed Chawla and Election Commissioner SY Qureshi for being biased and said that no free and fair elections are possible in the country under their leadership as both are "active members of the Congress coterie."

Condemning the Election Commission tactics, Mayawati said, "I would like to say that the EC officials are acting on the directives of the Congress and its allies. The EC, under political pressure is trying to stop Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to gain power despite the party having peoples'''' support in its favour." (ANI)