Oppn slams Election Rules amendment; Kharge says ‘another assault’ by Modi govt

The Union Government’s amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, on Saturday, has sparked a heated debate, with political leaders voicing strong opposition. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the amendment “another assault in systematic conspiracy to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India”. He said, “Modi Govt’s calibrated erosion of ECI’s integrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and Democracy and we will take every step to safeguard them.” Kharge also highlighted the government’s previous actions, such as removing the Chief Justice of India from the panel responsible for appointing Election Commissioners, as part of an allegedly coordinated assault on the integrity of the ECI. The party’s statement argued, “The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India expresses its strong objection to the Modi government’s move to amend the Conduct of Election Rules to restrict the access of political parties and candidates to electronic records, including video and other digital trails, which were initially introduced by the Election Commission in consultation with political parties to ensure greater transparency.” The CPI further noted that the amendment was made without adequate consultation with political parties, calling it “contrary to the established precedents over the years”. Kaka emphasised that the amendment would undermine the fairness of elections, saying, “We want the Election Commission and all procedures to be fair, transparent, and unbiased—that is when elections will have a stronger relevance.” He also pointed to the use of EVMs in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, alleging that “over 5.38 Lakh votes were not counted in the final tally”, and reiterated the party’s demand for a return to paper ballots.