“Body without soul”: Congress slams CEC over voting rights
Congress leaders demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar step down following Supreme Court observations on the right to vote and electoral roll revisions.
In a scathing attack on the Election Commission, Congress leaders have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, following significant observations made by Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan regarding the right to vote.
The political firestorm erupted after Justice Bhuyan highlighted the gravity of disenfranchisement, noting that any process that strips millions of citizens of their voting rights effectively turns them into "second-class citizens" within their own nation. The Congress party has seized upon these remarks to challenge the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The "Body without Soul" Argument
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil delivered a powerful critique, drawing a parallel between citizenship and the right to vote. He noted that Justice Bhuyan linked Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act with Article 326 of the Constitution, establishing the right to vote as a fundamental part of the Constitution's "basic structure."
"Retaining someone's citizenship while stripping them of their voting rights is akin to keeping the body alive while removing the soul," Patil stated, emphasizing the existential importance of the franchise. He went further to demand accountability, asserting that given the judicial observations, Gyanesh Kumar retains neither the moral nor the constitutional authority to remain in office and should step down immediately.
Questions Over Institutional Integrity
The controversy extends beyond the Congress party, with leaders from other political spectrums joining the chorus of concern. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat questioned why the Supreme Court had not yet issued clear directions to halt the SIR process, despite the clear concerns raised by judicial figures.
Karat raised serious questions regarding the independence of constitutional bodies, stating:
"The Election Commission is compromised. The Government of India is compromised. But is the Supreme Court also so compromised? After Justice Bhuyan's clear statement, which we welcome, the Supreme Court has to answer what it is doing to defend the heart of the Constitution, the right to vote."
She also defended citizens who question the Election Commission, noting that remarks by former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman reflect the widespread anxieties of the Indian public. She argued that these concerns challenge the government narrative that questioning the Commission is an "anti-national" act.
Calls for Uniformity in Electoral Rolls
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey echoed these sentiments, insisting on the necessity of uniform procedures. He argued that there can be no "two sets of laws" or "two categories of voters" when it comes to the deletion of names from electoral rolls.
While the opposition has intensified its scrutiny, the ruling party has offered a different perspective. BJP leader Karunasagar maintained that the process of electoral roll revision should not be automatically equated with disenfranchisement, suggesting that the constitutional mandate for revision is a standard procedure.
As the debate intensifies, the focus remains on whether the Election Commission's current methods for revising electoral rolls will face stricter judicial oversight to ensure that no citizen is relegated to the status of a "second-class" resident.