There is strong lingering perception of bias in the Election Commission of India (ECI) which is a matter of public debate. The recent appointments of two election commissioners after the Modi government removed the Chief Justice of India from the panel and then went ahead with appointment of two ECI officers without adequate consultation with the lone opposition have sparked suspicion and concern. Many view this move as indicative of the BJP\u2019s disregard for constitutional norms and processes as it advances its agenda. Moreover, there are fears that after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP which is expected to sweep the polls, will bring changes where Parliament\u2019s authority will be elevated above that of the Supreme Court, potentially undermining the judiciary\u2019s role in upholding constitutional integrity and protecting citizens\u2019 rights. This perceived disregard for constitutional checks and balances raises alarm about the erosion of democratic values and the potential consolidation of power in the hands of a single political entity. Like the saying that Caesar\u2019s wife must be seen to be above suspicion, so also the ECI which should be seen to be unbiased and unafraid in strictly enforcing the rules under which it is mandated to function. Some critics argue that the ECI\u2019s independence has been compromised, citing instances where they believe the Commission has not acted against certain political figures or parties. Others defend the ECI, stating that it operates without bias and that its decisions are based on evidence and legal procedures. It\u2019s important to note that the ECI is designed to function independently and has the authority to take action against any political party or candidate, including ministers and the Prime Minister, if they are found to be in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The ECI has faced criticism for its perceived reluctance to reprimand BJP ministers, including the Prime Minister, for alleged violations of the moral code of conduct. It may be recalled that Ashok Lavasa, who was appointed an EC in 2018, gave several dissenting notes on the issue of PM Modi and Amit Shah\u2019s alleged infringement of the campaigning rules in the 2019 election. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Lavasa is said to have dissented in as many as 11 EC decisions involving complaints against Modi and Shah for alleged MCC violation. The duo were let off in all the instances. His demand that dissent notes should be recorded in its orders on model code violations were over ruled by CEC Sunil Arora and EC Sushil Chandra , leaving Lavas with no option but to resign. Many expect the Election Commission to act as a vigilant referee, ensuring fairness and transparency throughout the electoral process. Amidst growing apprehensions about impartiality, there is a widespread desire for the Election Commission to assert its authority firmly and impartially, holding all parties and candidates accountable to the same standards. As the nation gears up for the electoral marathon, the overarching goal remains to facilitate a democratic exercise where the true voice and will of the people prevail. This necessitates a proactive and impartial Election Commission that upholds the sanctity of the electoral process, ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard. As these concerns mount, there is a pressing need for voters to be vigilant to safeguard the principles of democracy and ensure that constitutional norms are upheld to preserve the rights and freedoms of all citizens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There is strong lingering perception of bias in the Election Commission of India (ECI) which is a matter of public debate. The recent appointments of two election commissioners after the Modi government removed the Chief Justice of India from the panel and then went ahead with appointment of two ECI officers without adequate consultation with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-414843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=414843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414843\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=414843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=414843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=414843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}