'EAGLE': Congress sets up panel to monitor conduct of fair polls by EC

New Delhi: Congress on Sunday set up an eight-member committee 'EAGLE' or Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts to monitor the conduct of free and fair elections by the Election Commission, as the party plans to intensify its efforts to substantiate its allegations against the poll body.

Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken, senior MP and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digivijaya Singh, senior lawyer and MP Abhishek Singhvi, Professionals' Congress and Data Analytics department head Praveen Chakravary and senior leader and Congress headquarters Administration in-charge Gurdeep Sappal are among the members.

While no one is named as head of the group, Maken is inferred to head the panel as he holds the post of Treasurer of the party. Congress Maharashtra MLA Nitin Raut and Congress Working Committee Special Invitee Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy are also members of the panel.

"This committee will first take up the Maharashtra voters' list manipulation issue, and submit a detailed report to the leadership at the earliest," a Congress statement said.

The 'EAGLE' will also analyse past elections in other states, and proactively monitor upcoming elections and all other issues related to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country, it added.

Congress had raised concerns about the conduct of Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections, especially with regard to electoral rolls, addition and deletion of names from the rolls and delay in the EC sharing polling data among other things.

Both Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha had repeatedly raised the issue of alleged electoral malpractices in recent times.

Rahul had last month attacked the EC over Maharashtra Assembly polls, saying they were “not comfortable” with the way the poll body is conducting elections in the country and that there is “serious problem” with the country’s election system.

“I said very clearly that we are not comfortable with the way the EC is holding elections. I said very clearly that the large number of new voters, almost a crore, that have suddenly appeared between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections is problematic,” he had said.