Party alleges BJP government rushed the decision to bypass Supreme Court review
The Congress party has strongly condemned the Centre's recent notification appointing Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), calling it a "hastily taken decision" aimed at bypassing the Supreme Court's scrutiny. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal accused the BJP-led government of attempting to circumvent a critical examination of the selection process, which he argued goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
Venugopal emphasised that for the electoral process to maintain its sanctity, it is vital for the CEC to be an impartial figure. He pointed out that the amended law on election commissioner appointments removed the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel, a move that has raised concerns about the independence of the election body. He further stated that the government should have waited for the Supreme Court's hearing on the matter, scheduled for February 19, before proceeding with the appointment.
"Their decision to hastily hold the meeting today and appoint the new EC shows they are keen to circumvent the Supreme Court's scrutiny and get the appointment done before a clear order kicks in," Venugopal said. This criticism highlights growing tensions between the Congress and the government over the composition of the Election Commission and the process of selecting its top officials.
The appointment of Gyanesh Kumar comes at a time when the Supreme Court is reviewing the legal framework surrounding the selection of election commissioners, and the Congress's objections underscore the heightened political sensitivity around the issue. The party has demanded that the government reconsider the timing of this appointment in light of the ongoing legal proceedings.
