Mallikarjun Kharge to EC brass: We stand for strong Commission, do you?

A day after the Election Commission (EC) sent sharp response to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his recent letter to INDIA bloc allies, Kharge on Saturday wrote to EC, reiterating his concern about the delayed publication of final voters turnout and once again raised the issue of EC not rushing to act against complaints on alleged speeches made top leaders of the ruling establishment. Kharge said the Congress stood for strengthening the independence of the Election Commission and asked where the EC brass stood on the issue.

While expressing a subtle disapproval of the language of EC's letter to him, Kharge wrote back to CEC and two ECs.; "I have certain misgivings about the language of the (EC) letter, But I will not press on that issue as I understand the pressures they are working under. The letter on one hand says commission respects citizens' right to ask questions and on the other hand threatens citizens in the form of an advice to exercise caution".

Maintaining he was "disappointed that the commission did not quote another line from the letter which said "it should be our collective endeavour to safeguard democracy and protect the independent functioning of the EC", Kharge asked: "To make it more clear, the Congress party is on the side of the commission and stands for the strength and independence of the commission. The officials of the commission should now decide where they stand".


While expressing happiness that "the commission understands that it has the mandate to conduct smooth, free and fair elections under the Constitution", Kharge lamented: "However, the lack of urgency shown by the commission in taking action against blatantly communal and casteist statements being made by the leaders of the ruling party that vitiates the electoral process seems puzzling".

Stating he was puzzled by the need for EC to write that "the commission is not legally bound to publish any voter turnout data at aggregate level of a constituency or State", though it is factual", Kharge added: I'm sure many voters of our country would be surprised too. Many voters who are deeply interested in the elections would also like to see the absolute number of votes polled to be put out in the public domain by the commission directly".