Election rule amendment: ECI has succumbed to BJP government’s pressure, alleges Stalin

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. File
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Monday (December 23, 2024) said democracy was facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union government with the reckless amendment of Section 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, which, he claimed, would kill transparency in the election process.

The move to amend the rules follows a recent direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana High to furnish all documents related to the Haryana Assembly elections, including CCTV footage from a polling booth. The Union government brought in this amendment to prevent public inspection of election documents, including CCTV footage, thereby destroying one of the basic features of the Constitution, Mr. Stalin said in a social media post.

“The BJP-led Union Government’s fear extends beyond Haryana, reflecting anxiety over Maharashtra, where their orchestrated and unholy victory in the recent assembly election has raised serious concerns [sic],” Mr. Stalin alleged.

He added that it was “shocking” that the ECI, instead of fighting for institutional integrity, has “willingly succumbed to the pressure of Prime Minister Modi’s government” in “defacing” the free and fair election process.

He appealed to all political parties, including those part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), to come forward and “counter this undemocratic assault on free and fair elections.”