Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. He argued that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government should not have control over the selection process. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Sunday that he regrets supporting the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
YSRCP chief Y.S. “Currently, Prime Minister and a Minister nominated by the Prime Minister have two votes and Leader of Opposition one vote. Since two votes go in favour of one person, he will be a nominee of the government. This is a flaw in the system. Reddy maintained that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu or the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) should not have the authority to appoint the SEC. The YSRCP chief made these remarks while speaking to the media after meeting State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha.
The YSRCP had previously supported the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
Addressing a press conference, Reddy said the ruling TDP should not have the authority to nominate either the State Election Commissioner or the Chief Election Commissioner at the Centre. “Earlier at the Centre, YSRCP supported the system wherein the ruling party can nominate the Election Commissioner but today we are regretting the mistake we made by supporting it,” the YSRCP Chief said. “No matter, how sincere is the examiner, he has to face the criticism, if appointment is not done by a neutral body,” Reddy said, demanding restoration of the earlier system of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the Chief Election Commissioner should be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. We realised this after we made the mistake,” he said.
