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. 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.
Earlier reporting noted: YSRCP president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has admitted his party made a mistake by supporting the 2023 amendment that governed the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners.
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. 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. Reddy alleged that Punetha, whom he said had been appointed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, was acting on the latter’s directions. Earlier reporting noted: “A Mistake”: Jagan Mohan Reddy Regrets Backing 2023 Election Commission Law “A Mistake”: Jagan Mohan Reddy Regrets Backing 2023 Election Commission Law “A Mistake”: Jagan Mohan Reddy Regrets Backing 2023 Election Commission Law Earlier reporting noted: Reddy said that the ruling establishment should not have a decisive advantage in appointing officials responsible for conducting elections. Reddy said that the ruling establishment should not have a decisive advantage in appointing officials responsible for conducting elections.
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. He had approached Punetha to complain about alleged attempts by the ruling TDP-led coalition government to prevent YSRCP candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming local body elections. He has called for reforms to ensure a neutral selection process.
