New Delhi, Apr 21: The Election Commission on Tuesday turned down the request made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi for transfer of Pilibhit District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

“The Commission did not find any reason to transfer District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police,” Deputy Election Commissioner R. Balakrishnan told reporters here.

The EC also rejected Varun’s appeal to appoint neutral observers in his constituency.

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)."

New Delhi, Apr 21 : A divorce petition from a young Chinese couple was thrown out of court afte

New Delhi, Apr 21 : Election Commissioner Navin Chawla took over as the Chief Election Commissioner today, succeeding N. Gopalaswami who retired on Monday after serving in the Commission for five years.

Power Secretary V S Sampath also took charge as the Election Commissioner following the elevation of Chawla. Dr. S Y Qureshi already holds the post of Election Commissioner.

Chawla, who was appointed Election Commissioner on May the 16, 2005, will hold charge till July 29, 2010.

New Delhi, Apr 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for inclusive growth, which will ensure that the process of social and economic change would reach out to the marginalized sections of the population.

With an aim to reach out to millions of marginalised farmers left out of India''s booming economy, Dr. Singh''s government announced, in the last budget for the year ended March 2009, a 15 billion dollars loan waiver for small farmers who had borrowed from banks.

New Delhi, Apr 21 : Election Commissioner Navin Chawla will take over as the Chief Election Commissioner today as N. Gopalaswami demits office .

Power Secretary V S Sampath will take over as Election Commissioner following the elevation of Chawla.

Chawla, who was appointed Election Commissioner on May the 16, 2005, will hold charge till July 29, 2010.

Chawla, who will be taking over in the midst of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections, will oversee four phases of the polls.