ECI has always been a 'puppet' in the hands of Modi government: Kapil Sibal

The former Union Law Minister accused each Election Commissioner of "outdoing one another" in colluding with the government.Targeting the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, he stated that the Election Commission (EC) does not have the authority to decide on citizenship issues.

The Election Commission has stated that this revision, being conducted after 22 years, will remove ineligible voters and "duplicate" entries from the voter list while including those eligible to vote as per the law.

Responding to questions about the opposition's criticism of the Election Commission regarding the SIR, Sibal said, "Ever since this government came to power, the Election Commission has long been a puppet in its hands."

He added that the less said about the Election Commission's conduct, the better.On the SIR, he remarked, "In my view, this is a completely unconstitutional process. The Commission has no authority to decide on citizenship issues, especially through a block-level officer."

The senior advocate further stated, "I have always said that they (BJP) resort to every possible tactic to win elections. In fact, this entire Special Intensive Revision process is aimed at ensuring the continuation of majoritarian governments in the future."

He said, "The intention is clear—if you remove the names of poor people, marginalized communities, and tribals, you ensure that the majoritarian party always wins. This exercise is another way to achieve that, and it is deeply concerning."

Declining to comment on the Supreme Court's interim order, Sibal noted that he is a lawyer in the case.He said, "I hope the Election Commission will take into account whatever the court has said so that this controversy does not escalate further."

Referring to the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, Sibal stated that the SIR issue is more significant than any other issue currently under discussion. He also highlighted the importance of the Maharashtra issue, stating,"The Election Commission has not yet clarified why there was a sudden increase in voter numbers only in those constituencies where the BJP won."

Sibal's remarks come days after the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to consider Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards as valid documents during the SIR in Bihar, where elections are scheduled later this year.Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, describing the SIR as a "constitutional mandate," considered the arguments of senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Election Commission, and allowed the Commission to continue the process in Bihar.

Emphasizing the importance of the right to vote in a democratic country, the bench stated, "We cannot stop a constitutional body from doing what it must do. At the same time, we will not allow it to do what it must not do."Stressing the need for a hearing on the matter, the bench scheduled more than 10 petitions challenging the exercise for July 28.