Four Questions To Ask India’s ‘Neutral’ Umpire: The Role of the Election Commission

The responsibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is to ensure free and fair elections. The ECI has established a reputation for being a neutral umpire since 1950.

However, there are concerns about its independence and fairness in recent years. The Union government’s authority to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) has raised questions about the ECI’s autonomy.

Former CECs have expressed concern that these changes equate the Election Commissioners with civil servants, potentially undermining their ability to discipline the political class. There have been complaints about the ECI’s handling of various issues, including alleged misuse of the National Investigation Agency, announcements of monetary benefit schemes, and delays in announcing election dates.

In 2019, the ECI modified a rule related to polling agents, allowing them to be appointed from any booth within the entire assembly segment. This change has been viewed as potentially favoring the BJP in states where it has a weaker organizational presence.

In the city of Chandigarh, political parties requested a Decision Review System (DRS) similar to that used in cricket, with the Supreme Court being asked to act as the Third Umpire to review and potentially overturn decisions. Overall, concerns have been raised about the ECI’s independence, fairness, and neutrality, calling into question its ability to fulfill its crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections in India.