Jagan Calls for PM-LoP-CJI Appointment Panel for Election Commissioners
Jagan said the public needed clarity rather than an exchange of allegations
Amaravati: YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said democracy could function only when people had complete confidence in constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission, and called for revisiting the process by which Election Commissioners are appointed amid the ongoing row over the ECI and SIR.
His remarks come as opposition criticism heightened following a report claiming that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures linked to electoral rolls and database access.
"Democracy can stand only when people have complete confidence in constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission. Media reports that two Election Commissioners raised objections on several occasions to decisions, electoral rolls and the management of ECI leading to serious questions and doubts among the public," Reddy said.
He said the public needed clarity rather than an exchange of allegations. "Rather than an exchange of allegations, the public needs clarity on what objections were recorded, what action was taken on them, and how transparently the system functioned, be it for adding, deleting or restoring names on electoral rolls. Steps are needed to give people confidence on these matters," he said.
He added that public trust in the electoral process and every citizen's right to vote without fear must be strengthened. Reddy said transparency in a democracy must not only exist but must also be seen to exist, and called for "revisiting" the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, a law he noted his party had supported when it was passed.