Shashi Tharoor, four other MPs writes AICC CEA seeking transparency in election process

NEW DELHI: Five MPs, including Shashi Tharoor, have written to AICC Central Election Authority Chairman Madhusudhan Mistry expressing concern over the transparency and fairness of the election process for the Congress president. The letter was forwarded on September 6.

Apart from Tharoor, the letter has been signed by Manish Tiwari, Karthi Chidambaram Pradyut Bordolai and Abdul Khaleque. The letter said that the electoral voter list should be provided to all the candidates and those who have the right to vote and this would help to clear the doubts related to the election.

"The demand is not to release the party's internal documents. The demand is to release the list of qualified PCC committee members in the electoral college of the party's Central Election Authority (CEA) before the nomination process begins.

This way it is possible to know who is eligible to be nominated and who is entitled to vote. If there is concern about any leaks, the information on it should be accurately communicated to eligible voters and those waiting to become candidates. It is not possible for those who are eligible to vote and are willing to be candidates to visit the PCCs to verify this. If this demand is accepted, our concern about the transparency of the election process will end," the letter states.

Meanwhile, the notification for the election will come out on September 22 and nominations can be submitted from 24 to 30. The nomination can be withdrawn on October 8. The election will be held on the 17th. The result will be announced on the 19th.