Decision-making authority within the Election Commission of India (ECI) rests with three officials: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
For any decision to be finalized by the Election Commission, the signatures of all three officials are required. According to ECI rules, if two of the three Election Commissioners agree on a matter, the majority decision prevails.
Consensus or disagreement among Election Commissioners?
Questions regarding the Election Commission’s decisions have arisen following a report in the English newspaper *The Indian Express*, with the opposition targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the issue. The report stated that decisions were made within the Commission on matters to which two Election Commissioners had previously raised objections, without their knowledge.
In response, the Election Commission has clarified that decisions are reached through consensus, even if differences of opinion exist within the ECI.
However, according to an NDTV report, individuals with direct knowledge of the matter stated that none of the Election Commissioners expressed dissent. Sources indicated that they merely offered certain comments, which the Commission took into consideration. Those familiar with the matter confirmed that all decisions taken by the ECI bear the signatures of all three officials: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Opposition opens a front against the Election Commission
This issue has opened a new front in the ongoing battle between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the ECI’s ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) process—an exercise to update voter lists. The opposition alleges that this was a calculated move to remove voters in a manner that benefits the BJP.
Following the publication of the newspaper report, leaders including Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-Uddhav Thackeray faction), Manish Tiwari (Congress), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), and a DMK spokesperson targeted the Election Commission on Wednesday morning. Taking aim at the Chief Election Commissioner, Raut said, “On behalf of the BJP, he is committing the greatest crime against democracy that a Chief Election Commissioner could possibly commit.”
Sanjay Raut further added, “The BJP has provided him with security, but he does not realize that his name will be written in bold, black letters. If the reported allegations are true, then no fair election is possible as long as this person occupies that chair.”
