Chavan Seeks Probe Into ECI Working, Demands Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Prithviraj Chavan has demanded a probe into the ECI's functioning and the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, while Sanjay Raut accused the government of protecting him.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday demanded an investigation into the functioning of the Election Commission of India and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the poll body's chief was taking decisions without consulting his fellow commissioners.
In a post on X, the senior Congress leader described a newspaper report on the Commission's working as shocking and said the matter warranted a proper inquiry. He accused Mr. Kumar of an "open misuse" of powers and asked, "Who was he helping to win elections?"
A controversy over the Commission's functioning followed a report that Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over the past ten months to decisions on voter registration, deletions and restoration of names, and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Mr. Chavan said the Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 324, and referred to the Supreme Court's 1995 judgment in the T.N. Seshan case, which he said laid down the powers and role of election commissioners. Responding to the Commission's statement on Saturday that all decisions relating to the SIR had the unanimous approval of all three commissioners, he said either the CEC or the other two members were not telling the truth.
Asserting that managed elections leave democracy without meaning, Mr. Chavan called for an urgent meeting of INDIA bloc leaders and suggested that a delegation led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi meet President Droupadi Murmu to seek Mr. Kumar's removal. He said the Opposition must move a motion under constitutional provisions for the CEC's removal, and added that the Supreme Court should, if necessary, take suo motu cognisance and order an inquiry into the Commission's functioning.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also attacked the Narendra Modi government over the issue, saying it was pursuing a one-point programme to save Mr. Kumar. In a post on X, the Rajya Sabha member said the CEC has to go, alleging that he was the weapon being used to secure poll victories through electoral manipulation and fraud. Mr. Raut further claimed there was an elaborate effort to protect the "killers of democracy".