13 hrs ago
Assam CM Defends Collective Election Commission Decision-Making Amid Criticism
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the head of India’s Election Commission.
He said the Commission works as a group, not through one person alone.
In his view, decisions must be approved by most of the members or by everyone.
Sarma said it was wrong to suggest that the Chief Election Commissioner made decisions independently.
He called criticism of Gyanesh Kumar part of a political campaign by the Opposition.
His comments came during a dispute about how the Commission is working.
The dispute also involves changes to voter lists called the Special Intensive Revision.
The Commission currently has three members.
They are Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid criticism of the Election Commission of India.
Sarma said the poll panel functions collectively and cannot make decisions unilaterally.
He said Commission decisions must reflect either consensus or the majority view of its members.
The remarks came amid controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reported differences among commissioners.
The Election Commission of India currently comprises Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- Sarma said Election Commission decisions are collective and cannot be made unilaterally by the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Where
- At a press conference in Guwahati, Assam.
- When
- Thursday.
- Why
- His comments came amid criticism of the poll panel, controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reports of differences among commissioners.
Critics of the Poll Panel
Sarma's Defense
Unilateral decision-making
Critics of the Poll Panel
Criticism and reports have raised questions about whether the Chief Election Commissioner acted independently and about differences among Commission members.
Sarma's Defense
Sarma said the Election Commission is a collective constitutional body, so no decision can be taken unilaterally or when a member is in the minority.
Focus on Gyanesh Kumar
Critics of the Poll Panel
Opposition criticism has specifically targeted the Chief Election Commissioner amid the wider controversy.
Sarma's Defense
Sarma dismissed the criticism as a political campaign and said targeting Kumar was inconsistent with the Commission's collective functioning.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
- Defended official
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Current Commission
- Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Decision-making principle
- Sarma said decisions must be based on consensus or the majority view.
- Related controversy
- The functioning of the poll panel and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Location
- Guwahati
Quotes
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Chief Minister of Assam
“In my humble view, the Election Commission cannot take any decision when the Chief Election Commissioner or any other Election Commissioner is in the minority. Every decision has to be passed or taken by a majority because it is a collective body.”
thehansindia.com
“Sending a message across the country that the Chief Election Commissioner has taken a decision unilaterally does not fit into the constitutional scheme.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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