Stories
How was Gyanesh Kumar selected? Public needs to know: Prakash Raj
- •Actor Prakash Raj addressed the press in Chennai, demanding transparency regarding the selection process of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amidst ongoing protests.
- •He questioned the necessity and extreme urgency of conducting a Special Intensive Voter Revision within just one month in Tamil Nadu, a state with a population of six crores.
- •He highlighted flaws in the process, stating that names are being abruptly deleted if individuals are not home, and criticized the inadequate training of Booth Level Officers and lack of public awareness.
- •He raised concerns about the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee for Election Commissioners, replacing him with a Union Minister under the current administration.
- •He strongly criticized the 2024 law granting immunity from lawsuits for decisions made by the Chief Election Commissioner, questioning the foresight behind such legal protections.
Key Questions Answered
Until 2023, the Election Commissioner was chosen by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. However, a law was later introduced that removed the Chief Justice of India from the panel and replaced him with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the prime minister.
Opposition leaders and parties, including actor Prakash Raj and the Congress, have demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and removal, citing concerns over the Special Intensive Voter Revision (SIR) process, legal protections granted against his decisions, and reports that two other election commissioners objected to multiple poll panel decisions.
In 2024, a law was introduced stating that whether the Chief Election Commissioner is in service or retired, no lawsuits can be filed against any decisions they made or statements they uttered.
