Election Commissioner HS Brahma Election Commissioner HS Brahma

A day after BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi took out a massive roadshow in Varanasi in protest against the district administration's refusal to allow his rallies in the holy city, Election Commissioner HS Brahma ceded today that a decision on the matter should have been taken faster to avoid the stand-off.

Speaking to senior journalist Karan Thapar on his show To The Point, to be telecast on Headlines Today at 8.30 pm this evening, Brahma accepted that lapses were committed by both the Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav and the EC in handling the case. He said the Commission should have responded to Jaitley's letters.

"The RO should have explained to the applicant (of the BJP) the reasons for not allowing the programme (in Beniyabagh). It should have been done in a professional manner. There was a communication gap between the RO and the applicant, I personally feel," he said.

He said the area is surrounded by high rises and holding the programme in the late evening was a security hazard. A gathering of a large number of people in a small area was another problem, he added.

Brahama said an error of judgement can happen as EC depends on the feedback of returning officers. "There are 543 ROs," he said.

Rejecting allegations of bias and that the EC was weak, he said "I do not accept the 'weakest EC' perception. It could be a perception of a few persons."

Brahma said the EC should work more aggressively so that its image is not affected. "We should not only do a good job but be seen to be doing a good job," he said.

On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath had justified the decision to deny permission to Modi's rally in Varanasi and came to the defence of the District Magistrate whose removal was demanded by the BJP.

Maintaining that the permission for the rallies was denied on the "basis of professional advice" and there was no need to "deviate" from it, Sampath had said the EC was disappointed over questions being raised by BJP leaders over its functioning and "certain harsh and sweeping statements" made by them.

Asking political parties to "show greater maturity", Sampath had said the Election Commission is not afraid of anyone or "any political party" or "any entity" in discharging its duties.

"Election Commission is the body created under the Constitution and one of the pillars of democracy. Constitution has given enough power to the Commission to perform its duties boldly and impartialy," the CEC had said.

Sampath said the job of the Election Commission is "challenging" in enforcing electoral law, the model code of conduct, judiciously, rigorously and in a non-partisan manner.