New Delhi: A day after the appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha on Tuesday strongly criticized the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, calling it “disrespectful and discourteous.” Rahul Gandhi also released a “dissent note” outlining his objections. He emphasized that the move undermines the democratic process, and Rahul Gandhi reiterated his stance on safeguarding the integrity of India’s electoral system.
Rahul Gandhi Criticism of the Selection Process
Gandhi highlighted that the government made the selection despite the Supreme Court scheduling a hearing on a case challenging the composition of the selection committee within the next 48 hours.. He accused the Modi government of undermining the judiciary by excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel. According to him, this move raises concerns among millions of voters about the integrity of India’s electoral process.
“As Leader of Opposition, it is my duty to uphold the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the founding leaders of our nation. The PM and HM making a midnight decision on the CEC appointment, despite the matter being under judicial scrutiny, is both disrespectful and discourteous,” Gandhi wrote in a post on X.
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Appointments Despite Pending Supreme Court Hearing
On Monday night, the government appointed Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner and Haryana Chief Secretary Dr. Vivek Joshi as an Election Commissioner. The Prime Minister-led high-level committee made these appointments just hours after a meeting where Gandhi urged the government to postpone the decision until the Supreme Court delivered its verdict.
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Dissent Note Cites Supreme Court Ruling
In his dissent note, which he made public, Gandhi emphasized that an independent Election Commission, free from executive interference, depends on a transparent selection process for the CEC and Election Commissioners. He cited a Supreme Court judgment from March 2, 2023, which mandated that the appointment committee should include the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.
However, Gandhi pointed out that in August 2023, the government passed a new law replacing the CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister appointed by the Prime Minister. He termed this change a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling and stated that it was currently under legal challenge.
Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
Gandhi expressed concern that the government’s actions have eroded public trust in India’s electoral system. He noted that public surveys indicate a decline in confidence in the election process and its institutions.
“The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling reflected the larger concerns of millions of voters about the integrity of our electoral process. Instead of respecting this judgment, the government introduced a law that bypassed its spirit and letter,” Gandhi wrote.
He further mentioned that the Supreme Court will hear the case on February 19, 2025, and insisted that the government should not proceed with the appointment before the court’s ruling.
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CEC Set to Take Charge
Despite the objections, Gyanesh Kumar will assume office as the Chief Election Commissioner on Wednesday, replacing Rajiv Kumar, who will retire on Tuesday. Sources revealed that the selection committee had considered a panel of five names for both the CEC and Election Commissioner posts during its 30-minute meeting.
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