Rahul Gandhi expresses dissent over appointment of Chief Election Commissioner

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi expressed dissent in the meeting of the Prime Minister-chaired committee to decide the Chief Election Commissioner. The committee met as the current Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, is retiring tomorrow. Rahul Gandhi said that a decision on the new Election Commissioner should be taken only after knowing the Supreme Court's stand. The central government is giving priority to the name of Gyanesh Kumar, who is the senior-most election commissioner after Rajiv Kumar.

The Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation the day after tomorrow. The case challenges the exclusion of the Chief Justice from the selection process of the Chief Election Commissioner. It was in this situation that Rahul Gandhi demanded that the meeting to find a new commissioner be postponed. The Congress alleged that the government wants control of the Election Commission and that the BJP is not concerned about its credibility.

The Bihar elections due later this year and the elections in the states of Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam next year will be led by the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner.