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| (image courtesy: Hindustan Times) |
For decades, the Election Commission of India (ECI) stood as a proud, constitutionally empowered sentinel, safeguarding the world's largest democracy—its independence and impartiality armoured by both statute and the confidence of the people.
The Golden Era: When the ECI Was a True Watchdog
Revered as a body almost on par with the Supreme Court, the ECI earned widespread trust—particularly under Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan. His tenure epitomized transparency and firmness. Voter rolls were pruned, electoral codes enforced, and political interference curbed. Those were years when the Commission was seen not as a rubber stamp, but as democracy’s gatekeeper.
Until recently, the salary of the Chief Election Commissioner matched that of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)—a symbolic gesture affirming parity and safeguarding independence. The three-member selection committee that chose the CEC included the 'Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), and the CJI'—striking a delicate, balanced mechanism.
The Beginning of Erosion: The 2023 Legal Overhaul
That changed dramatically in 2023, with the passage of the 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023'. This new law:
* Replaced the 1991 act under which CECs drew the salary of a Supreme Court Judge.
* Relegated them to the salary scale equivalent to a 'Cabinet Secretary', a bureaucratic ranking that, critics argue, weakens the prestige and autonomy of the office.
* Stripped out the 'CJI from the selection committee', replacing that role with a 'Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM', thereby consolidating government dominance over appointments.
This transformation was not merely administrative—it struck at the heart of the Commission’s independence.
The 2025 Breaking Point: Appointment of Gyanesh Kumar
On February 19, 2025, following the new act’s framework, Gyanesh Kumar—a retired IAS officer—was appointed as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner by a three-member panel comprising /PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and LoP Rahul Gandhi'. Despite Rahul Gandhi’s strong objections, the appointment proceeded (as 2 members supported and 1 member opposed).
The selection drew sharp criticism. The opposition impugned the very structure of the law under which the appointment was made, claiming it violated the Supreme Court’s March 2023 judgment. The Court had mandated a selection committee including the CJI, pending Parliament’s enactment of a law.
The Aftermath: Democracy at Risk?
Recently, Rahul Gandhi held a public presentation, complete with PowerPoint slides and evidence, alleging that the ECI had been complicit in mass rigging of the /2024 parliamentary elections'. His accusations were explosive—not only were they detailed, but his presentation went viral, prompting widespread concern and the dawning realisation among citizens. Many began to wonder aloud whether the Government had reshaped the selection process to install a pliant CEC, shielding electoral wrongdoing.
When the ECI—through the new Chief Election Commissioner—declared it would not investigate these grave charges, the world watched in disbelief. That reticence turned to scorn. The Commission’s prestige, already battered, took a further blow:
Public sentiment turned satirical: some suspect the ECI has become nothing more than “a spokesperson for the BJP.”
Others say it now functions as “another ally in the NDA.”
The irony is staggering: the very body meant to be neutral is being lampooned as partisan.
Reflection: Democracy’s Defeat?
Once a linchpin of fair democracy, the ECI’s transformation is deeply troubling:
1. Loss of symbolism—the downgrade from SC Judge to Cabinet Secretary is more than fiscal. It signals a shift in values and priorities.
2. Appointment rigging—by excluding judicial balance from the selection process, independence becomes harder to claim credibly.
3. Erosion of trust—when credible accusations are brushed off without investigation, the institutional respect fades fast.
For citizens, the message is clear: if the ECI cannot guarantee impartiality, what safeguard remains between free will and state power? And all eyes are eagerly waiting to see the outcome of the impeachment motion all the opposition parties are planning to move against the CEC!
