1 month ago
S.Y. Quraishi: EC Must Win Opposition Confidence, Regulate Ruling Party
S.Y. Quraishi used to be the person in charge of elections in India.
He wrote an article saying the Election Commission must be fair to every political party.
He believes the ruling party already has many advantages, so it needs extra rules to follow.
The opposition parties need to feel that someone is listening to them.
He tells a story about a politician who called him the night before counting started in a Bihar election and asked for special arrangements.
Quraishi made the arrangements, and even though the politician lost, he accepted the result.
Quraishi says some opposition parties recently complained that the commission did not listen to them.
He thinks an election commission trusted only by the ruling party has failed.
His message is that the election umpire must be trusted by everyone, not just the party in power.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi argues the Election Commission must regulate the ruling party and reassure the Opposition.
Quraishi says constitutional independence requires the EC to maintain an arm's-length relationship with the executive.
He describes accommodating Lalu Prasad Yadav's counting-supervisor request during the 2010 Bihar Assembly election to preserve confidence in the process.
During the 2024 general election, 23 Opposition parties wrote to the Chief Justice of India over the EC's handling of electoral rolls and MCC complaints.
Quraishi asserts an EC trusted only by the ruling party has failed as surely as one trusted only by the Opposition.
He notes the Trinamool Congress alleged discourtesy by the Commission, a claim the Commission firmly denied.
- Who
- S.Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India and author of the memoir 'India and I'
- What
- Argues the EC's real test is winning the Opposition's confidence by regulating the ruling party and providing the Opposition reassurance
- Where
- India
- When
- In the period after the 2024 general election and around the publication of his memoir, amid recent Opposition grievances
- Why
- To preserve confidence in the electoral process and the legitimacy of electoral verdicts
Opposition Concerns
Commission's Position
Treatment of the Opposition
Opposition Concerns
Critics ask why the Opposition deserves preferential treatment from the Election Commission; some accuse the EC of favoritism.
Commission's Position
Quraishi argues reassurance is not favoritism - given the ruling party's inherent advantages, accommodating the Opposition fulfills, rather than compromises, neutrality.
Recent conduct of the EC
Opposition Concerns
Opposition parties said MCC violation representations got no prompt, transparent consideration in 2024; 23 parties wrote to the Chief Justice of India; TMC alleged discourtesy; Ashok Lavasa protested and was hounded out.
Commission's Position
The Commission firmly denied the allegations; Quraishi says whether grievances are upheld is not central - the deeper concern is that confidence in the EC has been eroded.
Key facts
- Author
- S.Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India
- Core philosophy
- The ruling party needs regulation. The Opposition needs reassurance. The EC must provide both.
- Supreme Court rulings cited
- TN Seshan v. Union of India; Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India
- Recent grievance
- 23 Opposition parties wrote to the Chief Justice of India over the EC's handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Anecdote
- 2010 Bihar Assembly election - Lalu Prasad Yadav's counting request accommodated
- Arun Jaitley's tribute
- One of India's most mature and credible Chief Election Commissioners
- Additional allegation
- Trinamool Congress alleged discourtesy by the Commission, which was firmly denied
Quotes
Arun Jaitley
Former Indian Minister and opposition leader in the BJP
“"one of India’s most mature and credible Chief Election Commissioners."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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