NEW DELHI, Jan 25: The Congress party criticized the Election Commission on Saturday, stating that the “self-congratulation” surrounding National Voters’ Day does not mask the reality that the poll panel’s operations are a “mockery” of the Constitution and an affront to the electorate.
The opposition further claimed that in the last decade, the Election Commission’s professionalism and autonomy have been “seriously undermined” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
National Voters’ Day, celebrated for the past 15 years, commemorates the formation of the Election Commission (EC) on January 25, 1950, just a day before India became a republic.
In a statement on X, Congress general secretary for communications, Jairam Ramesh, remarked, “While there may be much self-congratulation today, it cannot hide the fact that the Election Commission’s current operations mock the Constitution and insult the voters.”
He added, “National Voters Day has been observed since 2011 to honor the establishment of the Election Commission 75 years ago on January 25, 1950.”
Ramesh noted that the Election Commission is a constitutional entity, originally led by the esteemed Sukumar Sen, whose essential role in building the foundations of India’s electoral democracy is noteworthy.
“Sen served as the sole Chief Election Commissioner for eight years, and his ‘Report on the First General Elections in India 1951-52’ remains a classic. It’s worth mentioning that the draft electoral roll for the inaugural elections was largely completed prior to Sen’s tenure,” he added.
He highlighted the detailed narrative of this historical undertaking provided by Ornit Shani in her influential book, ‘How India Became Democratic.’
Ramesh acknowledged other notable Chief Election Commissioners, citing TN Seshan for his particularly significant contributions.
“Regrettably, the professionalism and independence of the Election Commission have significantly declined over the past decade due to actions by the PM-HM duo,” Ramesh asserted.
“Several of its decisions are currently being contested in the Supreme Court. Its handling of concerns raised during the recent assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra has been alarmingly partisan,” Ramesh stated.
“While there may be plenty of self-congratulation today, it cannot disguise the reality that the Election Commission’s current functioning is a mockery of the Constitution and an affront to the electorate,” he concluded. (Agencies)
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