New Delhi (Agency): The Indian National Congress has voiced concerns over the Modi government’s intentions with the Election Commission during an upcoming election year. Drawing from history, the Congress party cited a past letter from veteran BJP leader L K Advani to illustrate their point.
In a move that raised eyebrows, the Centre introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This bill proposes replacing the Chief Justice of India with a cabinet minister in the selection committee for the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners. This change, if accepted, would mean the government could have a more direct role in selecting members of the Election Commission.
Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, brought attention to a letter from June 2012. In this letter, L K Advani had written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, stating that appointments to constitutional bodies like the Election Commission should be “done in a bipartisan manner to remove any impression of bias.”
Furthermore, Ramesh pointed out that Advani had also suggested a panel for such appointments. This panel would have included the Chief Justice of India, opposition leaders from both houses of Parliament, and the prime minister. Ramesh criticized the current form of the CEC Bill and stated on X (formerly Twitter), “This coming from the Modi government in an election year further cements the view that Mr. Modi wants to ensure control over the Election Commission.”
Highlighting the significance of Advani’s words, Ramesh remarked, “No, this isn’t a Modi critic. This is an excerpt from the second paragraph of a letter from Advani to then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh on 2nd June, 2012.” He emphasized that this letter is still accessible on the BJP’s official website.
The leader further elaborated on the previously proposed committee’s structure. It included the Chief Justice of India and opposition leaders from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Ramesh argued that the CEC Bill presented by the Modi government contradicts not only Advani’s suggestion but also goes against a recent judgment made by a 5-judge Constitutional bench on March 2, 2023.
To underline his point, the Congress leader quoted the Supreme Court’s decision, stating: “‘In order to allow independence in the functioning of the Election Commission as a Constitutional body, the office of Chief Election Commissioners as well as the Election Commissioners have to be insulated from the executive interference’.”
It’s clear that the Congress party, along with other opposition parties, stands firmly against the new CEC Bill. As the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana prepare for their upcoming elections, the debate around the Election Commission’s independence is sure to be a hot topic in Indian politics.