New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has termed the Election Commission a "dysfunctional" and "failed" institution, alleging that a large section of the people have lost faith in the poll body due to its failure to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
In an interview with PTI, Sibal asserted that the integrity of the electoral process is at risk and stressed the urgency of addressing the lack of trust in the Election Commission. "The quicker we deal with this issue, the greater is the chance of saving democracy," he said.
Responding to allegations by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress regarding voter list irregularities, Sibal said, "The Election Commission has not discharged its functions in accordance with its responsibilities under the Constitution. As it stands today, it is a failed institution, and there is no confidence in it among a large section of the people."
He also called for broader scrutiny of the election process, beyond concerns about electronic voting machines (EVMs). "Apart from the EVMs, there are some really serious issues that suggest the process of elections is polluted. The results that have come about may have been the result of manipulations at many levels. We need to address that issue together," the Independent MP and former Congress leader said.
His remarks come amid ongoing concerns raised by the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties over alleged voter list discrepancies, including unexplained additions, deletions, and duplicate voter ID numbers.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday announced that more than 4,000 electoral registration officers are holding all-party meetings to resolve pending polling booth-level issues in their respective assembly constituencies. These meetings are part of the poll body's effort to address complaints and improve transparency in the electoral process.
The EC has also decided to explore linking voter cards with Aadhaar and collaborating with birth and death registration authorities to clean up voter rolls, aiming to ensure a fair and accurate electoral system.
With PTI inputs