Congress calls Bill for selection of EC ‘blatant attempt’ at making EC ‘puppet in hands of PM’

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged that a new bill that seeks to regulate the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners is a "blatant attempt" to turn the election watchdog into a "total puppet in the hands of the prime minister" and made a call to all democratic forces to oppose the proposed legislation.

The opposition party further inquired as to whether the BJD and YSRCP will band together to reject the bill that was included in the Rajya Sabha's day agenda.

Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal hit out at the government over the bill, calling it a “blatant attempt at making the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the PM”.

“What about the Supreme Court’s existing ruling which requires an impartial panel? Why does the PM feel the need to appoint a biased Election Commissioner? This is an unconstitutional, arbitrary and unfair Bill – we will oppose this on every forum,” Venugopal said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Congress MP and whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah want to control the Election Commission by bringing the bill.

“Modi and Shah wants to control the ECI as they are doing now,” Tagore alleged on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“All the Democratic forces must oppose. Will BJD and YSRCP do,” Tagore asked.

The government has listed a bill for introduction in the Rajya Sabha to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.

The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill also seeks to set up a procedure for the transaction of business by the Election Commission.

According to the bill listed for introduction, future chief election commissioners and election commissioners will be selected by a three-member panel headed by the prime minister and comprising the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Cabinet minister.

This is in contrast to a Supreme Court judgment of March this year which said the panel should comprise the PM, LoP in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

A vacancy will arise in the poll panel early next year when Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey demits office on February 14 on attaining the age of 65.

The apex court had in March delivered a landmark verdict aimed at insulating the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners from the Executive’s interference.

It had ruled that their appointments will be done by the President on the advice of a committee comprising the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph, in a unanimous verdict, held that this norm will continue to hold good till a law on the issue is made by Parliament.

Before the SC ruling, CEC and Election Commissioners were appointed by the President on the recommendation of the government.

With PTI inputs