New Delhi: Recently the Election Commission asked the Congress to ensure that its star campaigners do not make statements that send a wrong message. Like the Constitution of India can be abolished or sold. The Election Commission has directed Congress campaigners and candidates not to politicize the defense forces and not to make divisive statements regarding the socio-economic makeup of the defense forces. The Commission also advised to avoid false statements on the government’s Agniveer scheme. In fact, while addressing a public meeting in Mahendragarh, Haryana, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that if ‘INDIA’ coalition government is formed at the Centre, we will throw this scheme in the dustbin.

Chidambaram said, opposition has right to criticize government policy

On this, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that this instruction of the Election Commission is wrong. he/she wrote in a post on social media What does politicization mean? Does ECI mean criticism.

Opposition is allowed to criticize in Model Code of Conduct

Advocate Shivaji Shukla in Delhi says that the Model Code of Conduct cannot be implemented under any law passed by the Parliament. Under the Indian Penal Code i.e. IPC and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, ‘electoral offences’ and ‘corrupt conduct’ are considered crimes, which have provisions for punishment. It said political parties and candidates are advised to refrain from commenting on any aspect of the personal lives of leaders and workers of other parties. They are only allowed to criticize his/her policies, programmes, past records and actions.

The opposition keeps the government balanced, otherwise it will meet the same fate as Stalin.

Professor Rajiv Ranjan Giri at Delhi University says that the job of the opposition is to criticize and protect the government from being one-sided. Hitler became dictator in Germany only by eliminating the opposition. In Russia, Stalin got them killed through his/her intelligence agents. The result was only destruction and taking the country into an era of darkness. The opposition and civil rights groups help the ruling party to maintain balance.

If democracy is to be kept alive in India, then institutions like Election Commission, Supreme Court, CBI, ED will have to be given independence. If the governments had followed the words of the country’s former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan even today, no one would have been able to question the impartiality of the Election Commission.

Rajeev Ranjan Giri, Professor, Delhi University

Seshan had suggested to keep CJI in the committee

Rajiv Ranjan Giri says that TN Seshan, who was the Chief Election Commissioner of the country from 1991 to 1996, had suggested that the Chief Justice of the country should also be in the appointment committee of the Chief Election Commissioner, so that the Election Commission can remain autonomous. Seshan was the person who made both the public and the leaders aware of the power of the Election Commission. Seshan used to say that ‘I eat politicians for breakfast’. If the government had stuck to Seshan’s point today, neither the autonomy of the commission would have been questioned nor would anyone have doubted the government’s intentions.

Role of Chief Justice in selection of Chief Election Commissioner

There was a time when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (CJI) was also included in the selection committee. But, a new law was brought by the Central Government in December 2023. In which the Union Minister was kept in the panel instead of the CJI. Earlier, the Supreme Court had ruled that the election commissioners would be selected by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India.

Explained: What is Form 17C, which keeps track of votes, why is the Election Commission hesitant in making it public?

Now elections will be held like this, understand the prescribed procedure

According to the new law, the Law Ministry will shortlist candidates for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner. he/she will send these names to a three-member committee headed by the Prime Minister. The committee includes the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Minister nominated by the PM as members. The selection committee has the right to recommend the name of the shortlisted candidate or any other candidate. The selection committee will send its recommended names to the President. After that the President will put the final seal on the name of this candidate and a notification will be issued.

When Seshan snatched the biscuit from Rajiv Gandhi’s mouth, saying that he/she eats politicians for breakfast, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister got into trouble with everyone.

It would be better if the Chief Election Commissioner is elected unopposed.

Speaking to a media channel, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi said that the Election Commission should keep its image clean. he/she should not give anyone a chance to doubt. Even if the PM and cabinet ministers are in the selection committee, the election of the Chief Election Commissioner or Commissioner should be unopposed. With this, the Chief Election Commissioner will be elected with everyone’s consent.

Commission also in the dock for releasing voting figures

The Election Commission released the final voting figures for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections on April 30, but it still did not release the total number of voters in each constituency. The voting percentage was announced on 19 April, 11 days after the first phase of voting and on 26 April, four days after the second phase of voting. According to Election Commission data, the first phase of voting saw 66.14 percent voting, while the second phase saw 66.71 percent voting.

Election Commission reprimanded Congress on Agniveer issue, also gave strict instructions to BJP

Commission should take care of its image

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi says the data should have been published within 24 hours of voting, which had been the practice until 2014. Having the full number of voters is important for transparency. However, when problems started emerging in 2019, it was closed. The Election Commission should take care of its image.