Jagan seeks return to PM-CJI-LoP panel

Amaravati: YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday called for a rethink of the law governing appointments to the Election Commission of India, saying the reported differences within the poll panel had raised wider questions about public confidence in the country’s electoral institutions.

Responding to reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several decisions relating to electoral rolls, voter registration and the EC’s digital systems, Jagan said democracy could function only when citizens had complete confidence in constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission. National media has reported 14 formal objections by the two Commissioners over 10 months, including concerns over voter-list changes and centralisation of electoral-roll database controls. “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,” Jagan said, referring particularly to the addition, deletion and restoration of names in electoral rolls.

He said transparency must extend beyond the actual functioning of an institution. “In a democracy, transparency should not only prevail but should also appear to have prevailed,” he said.

Jagan said the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which his party had supported at the time, should now be revisited in view of the developments.

He made a specific proposal for changing the appointment mechanism. “An amendment to the Bill be brought forward where the Election Commissioner is appointed by the three-member committee which has Leader of Opposition (LoP), Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Prime Minister as members once again,” he said.

Calling for the Central government to take the initiative, Jagan said, “The Central government should come forward, set the normal in place, dispelling this fear.” He argued that a neutral appointment mechanism would help restore confidence in the poll panel.

Jagan also compared the issue to the principle that “appointing the examiner” can invite allegations even when the examiner is honest, saying a neutral selection process would help regain the Election Commission’s “esteem and confidence”.

Jagan also alleged that the ruling party had misused its authority during the SIR process in Andhra Pradesh and that Opposition objections had gone unheard. He further alleged that YSRCP objections over the redrawing of divisions during the local-body election process were ignored. “Ultimately, we must strengthen public trust in the electoral process, protect every citizen’s right to vote, and strengthen the systems that allow people to exercise that right without fear,” he said, calling transparency and accountability essential to the functioning of the Election Commission.

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