'EC Stands For Elections Compromised': Oppn Slams Govt Over Bill To Appoint CEC, ECs

Opposition voiced dissent saying the Bill subjugates the EC to the authority of the executive and seeks to “crush the spirit of democracy”.

New Delhi: Several Opposition parties voiced their dissent over the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, saying that it subjugates the EC to the authority of the executive and seeks to “crush the spirit of democracy”. The Bill, which was passed in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, aims to regulate the appointment and service terms of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Expressing apprehension over the Bill, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the government brought the new legislation to appoint a Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners of their own choice and “crush” the autonomy of the Indian democracy and electoral machinery.

“Modi Government has attacked the democracy of India. The autonomy, fearlessness and fairness of India's democracy and electoral machinery have been crushed by a bulldozer. Modi Government is passing a law in Rajya Sabha today to make the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners of the Election Commission of India, a 'pawn Election Commissioner'. There was a time when EC meant 'Electoral Credibility', today it means 'Elections Compromised',” ANI quoted Surjewala as saying.

“They will appoint a Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners of their own choice. They will run their Election Commission as per their desire. They will prepare an electoral list as per their desire...This is perhaps one of the biggest blows to democracy hurled by the Modi Government in the last nine years...We will take it to the end and the struggle will continue from Parliament to the streets,” he added.

Aam Aadmi Party member Raghav Chadha said the Bill seeks to overturn a Supreme Court judgment which is an "insult" to the top court. “This is not a Bill, it is a bulldozer through which the BJP-led central government has ended the impartiality of the ECI. This Bill is illegal. You cannot overturn the SC judgment without changing the basis of it. This is against the basic structure of the Constitution. The basic structure of the Constitution is of free and fair election,” Chadha told reporters.

“This will be totally in the favour of the government. It can't be neutral in the way it is expected. In a democratic country, how can this be acceptable,” DMK MP T Siva told ANI.

“Does the government not trust the Chief Justice? Does the government not trust the Supreme Court? Today is a blot on Indian democracy,” PTI quoted Congress MP Pramod Tiwari as saying.

All India Trinamool Congress member Jawhar Sircar alleged that by bringing the legislation, the government is trying to lower the status of the CEC and other election commissioners from that of a cabinet secretary.