Congress MP KC Venugopal has strongly criticized the recent appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), arguing that the decision undermines the Constitution. Venugopal took to social media to express his concerns, claiming the move was part of a larger effort by the ruling government to “destroy” India’s electoral process.
In a post on X, Venugopal described the appointment as a “hasty midnight move” and asserted that it contradicted the constitutional principles. He emphasized that for the electoral process to maintain its integrity, the CEC must be an impartial figure, as repeatedly highlighted by the Supreme Court.
“The Government has notified the appointment of the new CEC in a hurried fashion, which goes against the spirit of our Constitution and what has been reiterated by the Supreme Court,” Venugopal wrote. “The decision to rush the meeting today and appoint the new CEC indicates an attempt to bypass the Supreme Court’s scrutiny and push the appointment through before a clear ruling comes into effect.”
Venugopal further criticized the appointment, stating that it only confirmed widespread concerns about the government’s role in undermining the electoral system. He pointed to various issues such as alleged fake voter lists, election schedules favoring the BJP, and suspicions about EVM tampering, all of which, he claimed, contribute to a growing lack of trust in the electoral process and the CECs appointed by the government.
“As the Leader of Opposition rightly pointed out, this decision should have been postponed until the Supreme Court makes a ruling that aligns with the Constitution,” Venugopal added.
The comments came after the announcement of Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment as the new Chief Election Commissioner, effective February 19, 2025. A notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu had appointed Gyanesh Kumar, who previously served as Election Commissioner, to the role. The appointment follows the powers granted under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
In a separate notification, the Ministry also announced the appointment of Dr. Vivek Joshi as Election Commissioner, effective upon his assumption of office. Joshi is a 1989-batch IAS officer from the Haryana cadre.
Gyanesh Kumar will succeed Rajiv Kumar, who will step down as Chief Election Commissioner on February 18.
