Karunanidhi backs Advani' on CEC, CAG selection process

Chennai, June 5 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi Tuesday supported BJP leader L.K. Advani's views on constituting a broad-based collegium to select the chief election commissioner (CEC) and the comptroller and auditor general (CAG).

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre earlier rejected the suggestion.

"I also agree with the contents of that letter (written by Advani to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday). Just because the view is from an opposition party it could not be slighted," Karunanidhi, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister, said in a statement.

Advani, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, wrote to Manomhan Singh suggesting formation of the collegium headed by the prime minister and comprising of the chief justice of India, law minister and leaders of opposition from both houses of parliament.

Referring to the letter, Karunanidhi said: "I hope the prime minister and the central government would give importance to the view and process this accordingly."

The DMK is a constituent of the UPA.