New Delhi : Opposition leaders attacked BJP government over the media report that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and the two Election Commissioners, Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey, joined an online “interaction” called by the Prime Minister’s Office on November 16.“ Elections are coming in five states… And how can we expect that we will get justice in all the forthcoming elections?”- Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge asks.

Kharge raised questions about the impartiality of the coming elections. “They (the PMO) can’t say like that. The EC is supposed to be independent… not supposed to be, it is an independent body. How can we expect that the elections will be impartial?". The interaction took place a day after the EC received an unusually worded letter from an official of the Law Ministry – the administrative Ministry of the poll panel – that Principal Secretary to PM P K Mishra will “chair a meeting” on a common electoral roll and “expects CEC” to be present.

Such wording, accoding to an official , caused a flutter since it read like a “summons” that breached precedent and Constitutional norms. While he and the other two Commissioners stayed away from the video meeting — in which their subordinates were present – as per precedent, the three did join an “informal interaction” with Mishra immediately after.
Kharge said: “This government is destroying the independence of every institution. They have destroyed the CBI, the CVC… In the Home Ministry, the ED… Such things don’t happen in any other country.”

The Congress MP also pointed out that as per protocol, officers can go to the EC if they want opinion on some issue, but not the other way round. “Many times, we have also gone. We have explained about EVMs or problems in elections. You cannot degrade an institution.”
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury called what had happened “atrocious”. “How can the PMO summon an independent Constitutional authority? One mandated to conduct free and fair elections? Worse how could the EC be so servile & attend? ? over ECs neutrality & fairness,” he tweeted.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said: “We have been insisting for long that constitutional authorities, independent autonomous bodies, should never yield to the government’s pressure… They must be above suspicion. That is the reason why they have been given all these powers. This government, after coming to power, is using all these institutions for the their whims and fancies… What all is going to happen in the future is a big question before us. Things that are developing, the way Bills are being passed… which later become instruments in their hands to sabotage the Opposition voice… are not a good sign.”

CPM Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said the media report was “very relevant” and “an eyeopener” on how this government is “tampering” with independent institutions like the EC. “Written letters have been sent to the EC to be part of the deliberations of the PMO. This is unheard of in the history of India. Earlier also we came across instances where the independence of the EC was compromised and the government tampered with the EC. It is very clear that this government is bent upon crippling all institutions in this country, especially the EC, which has overriding impact on elections and democratic system of this country.”

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar said the PMO has no right to call the CEC, who has no business attending any such meeting involving the office of the Prime Minister. “PMO has no right to call Chief Election Commissioner & he has no business to go to PMO meeting. Please maintain propriety – don’t destroy the immunity that the Constitution has given CEC,” Sircar tweeted.RJD leader Manoj Jha tweeted that while the case is shocking, it “doesn’t surprise anymore”.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted that as an independent institution, the Election Commission of India is not answerable to the government. He termed the entire episode as patently improper. Election Commissioners hold constitutional posts. ECI is an independent institution that’s not answerable to the govt, least of all to babus in PMO. It’s patently improper that babus in PMO are “summoning” CEC & ECs, and the latter are complying, Owaisi posted on Twitter.

TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale said the PMO’s letter to the EC was “shocking beyond words”. With elections coming up in 7 states this year, how was the Election Commission (an independent institution) “summoned” by the PMO? Election Commission is meant to be an institution independent of govt.

Meetings pertaining to elections are attended by officials & NOT the CEC or 2 Election Commissioners. What was the PMO “warning” the EC about with this “summons”? And importantly – why did the CEC attend?” Gokhale asked.