Calibrated erosion of EC’s integrity: Kharge on poll rule changes

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at the government for amending the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents. He said the amendment was “another assault in the Modi government’s systematic conspiracy to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission”.

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Other opposition parties —the CPI, CPM and SP — also slammed the government over the issue. The amendment, introduced after the Election Commission’s recommendations, restricts public access to documents such as CCTV footage and other election material.

In a post on X, Kharge wrote, “Modi government’s calibrated erosion of the EC’s integrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and democracy and we will take every step to safeguard them.”

Kharge also highlighted the government’s previous actions, such as removing the Chief Justice of India from the panel responsible for appointing election commissioners, as part of a coordinated assault on the integrity of the EC. He accused the government of trying to restrict electoral information, even after a high court order. “Every time the Congress wrote to the EC regarding specific poll irregularities such as voter deletions and lack of transparency in EVMs, the panel has responded in a condescending tone and chosen not to even acknowledge certain serious complaints. This again proves that the EC, even though a quasi-judicial body, is not behaving independently,” Kharge said.

Expressing concerns over the amendment , CPI leader D Raja said the Modi government did not believe in a democratic way of functioning. The CPI (Marxist) issued a statement strongly objecting to the amendment.

SP spokesperson Manoj Kaka voiced concerns over the amendment’s impact on electoral transparency. He said it would undermine fairness of elections.