Rahul Gandhi’s Statement Regarding Selection of Poll Chief
New Delhi:
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has criticized the recent decision made by the center to appoint Gyanesh Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner, labeling his nomination as a ‘violation of the Supreme Court order by removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee’.
Mr. Gandhi, who is a part of the three-member panel along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, expressed his objection to the timing of selecting a new CEC, especially since there is a pending challenge to the law governing their selection in the Supreme Court this week.
### Rahul Gandhi’s Dissent Note
During the selection committee meeting, Rahul Gandhi presented a dissent note to the Prime Minister and Home Minister highlighting the importance of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference in the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner.
During the meeting of the committee to select the next Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM, that stated: The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of choosing the Election… pic.twitter.com/JeL9WSfq3X
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 18, 2025
### Violation of Supreme Court Order
Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of disregarding the Supreme Court order and exacerbating concerns over the integrity of the electoral process by removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee.
He emphasized his responsibility as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to uphold the ideals of the nation’s founding leaders and hold the government accountable for its actions.
### Controversy Over CEC Appointment
The controversy surrounding the appointment of the next CEC is rooted in a change in the law that now allows the PM, a cabinet minister (in this case, the Home Minister), and the Leader of the Opposition to select the CEC. Critics argue that this change gives the center an advantage in choosing the individual who will oversee multiple state elections in the coming years.
Opposition parties and critics are set to argue before the Supreme Court that this new law compromises the neutrality of the CEC selection panel.
### Supreme Court Hearing
The contentious law was passed by the government in 2023 after the Supreme Court mandated that the selection committee should include the PM, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear this case on February 22.
Overall, the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner has sparked a debate on the independence and neutrality of the electoral process in India, with opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi raising concerns about the government’s decision-making process. The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing will be closely watched to determine the future of the CEC selection process.