Congress hits out at Gyanesh Kumar’s CEC appointment: ‘SC Scrutiny dodged’

Congress criticized the Centre’s decision to appoint Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The party called it a rushed move to bypass Supreme Court scrutiny. Congress leader KC Venugopal accused the BJP-led government of undermining the electoral process.

Venugopal said the government should have waited for the Supreme Court hearing on February 19. He argued that the amended law removed the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel, raising concerns about fairness. He accused the ruling party of manipulating the process to favor its interests.

Rahul Gandhi, a selection panel member, objected to the timing. He submitted a dissent note, stating the appointment should have been delayed until the court’s verdict. He attended the meeting alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Venugopal accused the government of distorting democracy. He pointed to issues like fake voter lists, favorable election schedules, and alleged EVM tampering. He claimed such actions erode trust in the electoral system.

Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer, served as Cooperation Ministry Secretary before becoming an Election Commissioner in 2024. He held key roles in the Home Ministry, overseeing Jammu & Kashmir affairs during Article 370 abrogation. His close association with BJP leaders has raised concerns about impartiality.

Congress insists that Kumar’s appointment must be re-evaluated. The party demands a fair and transparent selection process to uphold democracy.