Opposition seeks change in panel to select Election Commissioners, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha are demanding changes to the selection panel for Election Commissioners (ECs), proposing the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
• Currently, the selection committee consists of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister.
• Opposition MPs are questioning the legality of the Election Commission's (EC) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• Concerns were raised regarding the neutrality of the EC, with allegations of bias and changing rules to favor a specific political party.

Detailed Insights:

• The Election Commission (EC) is facing scrutiny over its impartiality and conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with opposition parties alleging a lack of legal basis for the revision.
• The opposition is advocating for greater transparency and accountability in the selection process of Election Commissioners (ECs) to ensure the EC's neutrality and independence.
• Concerns were raised about potential electoral malpractices and the need to address issues with the current electoral rolls, including demands for machine-readable rolls for all political parties.
• Some opposition members are calling for a return to ballot paper voting, questioning the reliability and acceptance of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India compared to developed countries like the United States and Germany.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Election Commission (EC): Constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections in India.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A process of updating and correcting electoral rolls, often conducted before elections.
• Electoral Rolls: Official list of eligible voters in a particular constituency or area.