In an unprecedented letter circulated by the media on Saturday, May 18, election commissioner Ashok Lavasa was reported to have clashed with Chief Election commissioner Sunil Arora and the other election commissioner Sushil Chandra, indicating a possible rift within the election commission (EC).
Lavasa had written on May 4, “I am being forced to stay away from the meetings of the full commission since minority decisions are not being recorded…”
In a press statement, Arora responded to the controversy saying, “The three members of the ECI are not expected to be templates or clones of each other… the eloquence of silence is always difficult but far more desirable which is far to see the election process through instead of creating ill-timed controversies.”
After the news broke, several political leaders expressed their concerns on such a development, especially so close to the May 23 results for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
MP Ahmed Patel said that Lavasa’s letter puts at risk the “sanctity of the electoral process and the institutional integrity of the Election Commission…”
The senior Congress leader called for “a thorough credible enquiry into the issues raised by Mr Lavasa” to restore the independent status of the EC
There must be a thorough credible enquiry into the issues raised by Mr Lavasa & restoration of the Commission’s independent status as the watchdog of world’s largest democracy
— Ahmed Patel Memorial (@ahmedpatel) May 18, 2019
Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram said that he couldn’t figure out how the chief election commissioner Sunil Arora’s response was in relation to election commissioner Ashok Lavasa’s complaints.
Chidambaram hit out at Arora for disregarding transparency of the EC when he said that some matters are best kept ‘internal’.
The senior Congress leader added that no other evidence was necessary to prove that “another independent institution has been captured by the Modi sarkar.”
Mr Ashok Lavasa, EC, complained that his 'dissent' was not being recorded and hence decided to stay away from meetings of the Commission.
The CEC has replied that silence is eloquent. I am still trying to find the connection between the complaint and the answer!
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 18, 2019
There is no need for any more proof that another independent institution has been captured by the Modi sarkar.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 18, 2019
Also Read: Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa Opts Out Of Meetings, Says Minority Decisions Not Being Recorded
Ganesh Kumar Yadav, the president of Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress, pointed out how the ‘Divider-in-chief’ PM Narendra Modi — a title that was given to him by the Time magazine — had sown seeds of discord among the judges of the Supreme Court, top CBI officers, NSSO officers and now top commissioners of the EC.
Divider in Chief-
– Divided judges of Apex court
– Divided top CBI officers
– Divided NSSO officers & now
– Divided top officers of election commission.#ElectionCommission #Elections2019 https://t.co/yksv6yrywF— Ganesh Kumar Yadav (@GaneshYadavINC) May 18, 2019
Former Minister of Finance and External Affairs Yashwant Sinha simply expressed his admiration for civil servants like Ashok Lavasa.
I am proud of civil servants like Ashok Lavasa.
— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) May 18, 2019
Public Interest Lawyer Prashant Bhushan highlighted the “unique” and “most sinister impact of” Modi government to systematically destroy India’s independent institutions such as the judiciary, EC, CAG, media, CVC, RBI, CBI, ED, IT and universities.
He added that all the institutions have been corrupted to benefit the BJP, PM Modi and party president Amit Shah.
A unique & most sinister impact of the Modi govt is the systematic destruction of Institutions. Judiciary, EC, CAG, Media, CVC, RBI, CBI, ED, IT dept, Universities. All have been suborned to be used for the benefit of the BJP & Modi/Shah rather than to protect democracy & rights https://t.co/Aj2BeQbBPK
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) May 18, 2019
National President of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, thanked Ashok Lavasa for “saving the reputation of this great institution” and shamed the other commissioners for being meek silent spectators.
Thanks @AshokLavasa for saving the reputation of this great institution. Please do write down you dissent, your opinions, if only for posterity.
To the other two members: don't you have any shame?@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI https://t.co/eadDpVQ5ZX
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 18, 2019
Yadav also questioned whether Lavasa was part of the committee that took the extraordinary decision to cut short campaigning in West Bengal.
So, was @AshokLavasa a party to the extraordinary decision of the EC regarding banning of election campaign in West Bengal? Any idea? https://t.co/kLi2xEygT0
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 18, 2019
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechry noted that these questions over the EC’s impartiality were “ominous for Indian democracy”, adding that the EC should decisively intervene to ensure free and fair polls.
The Election Commission must decisively intervene to ensure free & fair poll. Question marks over its impartiality are ominous for Indian democracy. https://t.co/Co0uZWD8vC
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 18, 2019