The Indian National Congress has levelled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (EC), characterising the poll body's recent affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court as "deceptive, deceitful and duplicitous." The sharp rebuke from the opposition party comes amid escalating tensions over the operational conduct of the commission and the decision-making processes under Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to express the party's grievances, alleging that the current leadership within the commission has moved away from a culture of consensus. According to Ramesh, the CEC has been engaging in unilateral decision-making, often ignoring the formal objections raised by other election commissioners. He further claimed that these fellow commissioners were frequently left in the dark, learning about significant regulatory changes only through media reports rather than internal deliberations.
A primary point of contention involves the claims made regarding the administration of Form 6, which is used for electoral registration. The Congress party asserts that the commission’s narrative regarding the form is contradictory. Ramesh stated that the commission initially claimed the Supreme Court had approved a new declaration attached to Form 6, but significantly altered its stance after the apex court contradicted that assertion. The party now argues that the commission is attempting to bypass transparency by claiming Form 6 remains unchanged, while simultaneously requiring a mandatory declaration that effectively modifies the application process.
The criticism further extends to the implementation of the ECINET system. The Congress party alleges that the commission has maintained silence regarding the centralisation of electoral rolls through this platform. According to Ramesh, this system effectively overrides the authority of statutory electoral registration officers. He noted that these concerns regarding the centralisation of power were previously placed on record by other commissioners, yet the EC has allegedly failed to address these procedural violations.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive," Ramesh wrote, highlighting the party’s dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by the poll body. The Congress spokesperson maintained that major orders, such as those related to Station-Specific Information (SIR), were presented as formally approved by all three commissioners, despite clear evidence of internal dissent. He argued that the official records fail to reflect the reality of objections raised by the other commissioners, which he claims were disregarded by the CEC.
The controversy surrounding the affidavit arrives at a time when the Election Commission is facing scrutiny over its internal management and transparency. By challenging the veracity of the filing, the Congress is pushing for greater clarity on how electoral procedures are being amended and managed. The party’s public stance signals a deepening divide between the opposition and the constitutional body responsible for overseeing the country's democratic processes.
As the matter remains before the Supreme Court, the legislative and public discourse continues to focus on whether the Election Commission is maintaining its mandate of impartial and collective functioning. The Congress has signaled its intent to keep the pressure on the commission, demanding accountability for what it terms as a move toward "unilateral decision-making" that undermines the statutory framework of electoral registration in India.
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