New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has raised sharp objections to the Modi government’s late-night appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), replacing Rajiv Kumar after his retirement. Gandhi criticized the hasty decision, highlighting that the composition of the selection committee is currently under judicial review in the Supreme Court.
In a scathing post on X, Gandhi questioned the urgency of the appointment and accused the government of exacerbating concerns over the electoral process’s integrity. He pointed out that the Modi administration violated a Supreme Court order by removing the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel, a move Gandhi described as “disrespectful” and “discourteous.”
“As LoP, it is my duty to uphold the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and our founding leaders. The PM and HM’s midnight decision to appoint the new CEC is both disrespectful and discourteous, especially when the committee’s composition is under challenge in the Supreme Court,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader, who was part of the selection meeting, submitted a dissent note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing that an independent Election Commission depends on a transparent and unbiased selection process, free from executive influence.
Gandhi also cited a March 2, 2023, Supreme Court ruling, which mandated that the selection of the CEC and Election Commissioners be made by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. However, in a controversial move, the government passed a law in August 2023 replacing the CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister appointed by the PM, which Gandhi labeled a “flagrant violation” of the court’s directive.
