Amaravati, Sep 25: Asserting that there should be greater transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission, YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday urged the Centre to revisit the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, so that the Chief Justice of India is also a member of the committee that decides the appointment of the top officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In a post on X, the former Chief Minister said an amendment should be brought to the Act to provide for the appointment of Election Commissioners by a three-member committee comprising the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Prime Minister.
He described the present legislation as akin to a “student appointing the examiner”, saying such a system is always prone to allegations, even when the examiner is thoroughly honest.
“In a democracy, transparency should not only prevail but should also appear to have prevailed. The very bill (Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023) which had our support then, should be revisited now in the current background. The Central government (ruling party) should come forward, set the norm in place, dispelling this fear,” he said.
Jagan’s remarks came two days after The Indian Express reported that there were differences between the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners. He further said restoring the earlier system of appointing Election Commissioners through a three-member committee comprising the LoP, CJI and Prime Minister was particularly important because, during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Andhra Pradesh, the party in power misused its authority, while on several occasions, appeals from the Opposition went unheard.
“Ultimately, we must strengthen public trust in the electoral process, protect every citizen’s right to vote, and strengthen the systems that allow people to exercise that right without fear,” he said.
He further alleged that, during the local body election process, the YSRCP’s objections as an Opposition party to the manner in which divisions were redrawn were brushed aside, adding that such actions would undoubtedly weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
“Transparency and accountability are the true measures of how any institution functions in a democracy, and safeguarding them is that institution’s primary duty,” he added.
