Govt fixing polls with EC’s help: INDIA bloc to CJI

INDIA Bloc Accuses BJP Government of Election Manipulation, Turns to CJI

Thedeshpost.com – NEW DELHI: The joint opposition has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic principles, accusing the BJP government of manipulating elections through the assistance of a biased Election Commission. They warned that this interference puts the integrity of the electoral process at risk and urged Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to halt the Scrutiny of Electoral Rolls (SIR) procedure, which they claim should be suspended five years prior to an assembly election.

Opposition Questions EV Ms and Ballot Paper Procedures

Alongside demanding a suspension of SIR, the opposition highlighted issues with electronic voting machines (EV Ms) and called for the reinstatement of traditional ballot papers. They further alleged that the electoral outcomes in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Haryana were influenced by systematic bias, with the Election Commission (EC) favoring the BJP.

“The reason for our grave concern is the brazen biased conduct of the EC, in particular the chief election commissioner,” the coalition wrote. “There has been open, unabashed support of the BJP during the course of electoral processes.”

In its June 28 letter to the Chief Justice of India, the group stated it would have avoided direct intervention had it not been compelled by the current circumstances. The bloc listed several grievances, including the perception that SIR favors the BJP, misuse of administrative agencies to sway polls, and the appointment of election commissioners aligned with the ruling party.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the SIR process, emphasizing its role in ensuring free and fair elections. However, the INDIA bloc argued that when institutional mechanisms fail, democracies risk descending into chaos. “We are not challenging the judiciary; in fact, we turn to courts when all other avenues have been exhausted,” they noted. “When this, too, fails, it leaves open the question—who do we now turn to?“

“Judges do not live in ivory towers. You, too, are aware of what is happening on the ground,” the coalition added. They also pointed out that the Modi government removed the CJI from the collegium to select election commissioners, disregarding the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Anoop Baranwal case.

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