Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, voiced objections on Thursday regarding the government’s choices for Election Commissioner positions, following the recent departure of EC Arun Goel, which resulted in two vacancies in the commission.
The selection committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, and the Leader of the Opposition, convened this morning to discuss candidates for the vacant election commissioner roles.
After the committee meeting, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury expressed concerns about the selection process, alleging flaws. He remarked, “They (government) have the majority (in the committee that appoints election commissioners).
Earlier, they had given me 212 names, but 10 minutes before the appointment they again gave me just six names. I know that the CJI isn’t there, government has made such a law that the CJI doesn’t interfere and the Central govt can choose a favourable name. I am not saying that it’s arbitrary but the procedure that is being followed has some lacunae.”
Sources suggest that the selection committee eventually settled on two candidates, retired IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, who will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on the commission.
Gyanesh Kumar retired as secretary of the cooperation ministry in February, while Sukhbir Singh Sandhu served as the former Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttarakhand.
On December 12, the Rajya Sabha passed a bill to regulate the appointment and service terms of the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners, replacing the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.
According to the Bill, the President will appoint the CEC and ECs upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee, consisting of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
On March 9, Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from the post, and his resignation was accepted by the President.
The primary responsibility of the newly appointed election commissioner will be to ensure the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April-May this year