Stories
BJP Slams Congress Over Election Commissioner Row
- •BJP accused Congress of rewarding election commissioners who favored them in the past by giving them poll tickets, governor posts, and prestigious civilian awards.
- •Union Minister Piyush Goyal slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his double standards and childish behavior regarding protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
- •Goyal defended the Modi government's appointment system, stating that it ensures greater transparency and that all election commissioners under the current administration have worked independently.
- •The BJP leader cited historical examples, including the appointment of RK Trivedi as Gujarat Governor and MS Gill receiving the Padma Vibhushan, to highlight alleged past political favoritism.
Key Questions Answered
Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused the Congress party of hypocrisy, claiming that previous governments rewarded election commissioners who favored them by giving them political tickets, prestigious honors like the Padma Vibhushan, and gubernatorial posts such as appointing RK Trivedi as Gujarat Governor in 1986.
The 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners specifies a selection committee that includes the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition. The BJP defends this system as ensuring greater transparency, contrasting it with past appointments made without consulting stakeholders.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces protests and criticism from opposition parties like Congress over alleged electoral irregularities, the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, and reports of internal disagreements within the election panel.
