Cong demands inquiry into issues raised by EC Lavasa

With the rift within the Election Commission reaching a flashpoint, the Opposition Congress on Saturday demanded an inquiry into the issues raised by Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa in his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

“There must be a thorough, credible enquiry into the issues raised by Mr Lavasa & (and) restoration of the Commission’s independent status as the watchdog of world’s largest democracy,” senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel posted on Twitter. Terming Lavasa's letter to Arora “serious”, he stated that the sanctity of the electoral process and the institutional integrity of the EC was in jeopardy.

The Congress has been accusing the Election Commission of being biased towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly when it comes to taking action on a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Lavasa, one of the two Election Commissioners, wrote to Arora, protesting about his dissenting views going unrecorded in the decisions and orders of the commission.

Reacting to the letter, Arora on Saturday said that “eloquence of silence” was “far more desirable.”

“The CEC has replied that silence is eloquent. I am still trying to find the connection between the complaint and the answer!,” tweeted former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.

“(The) CEC tells the people that some matters are best kept 'internal'. Is he saying that the people – the voters – should not know or be concerned about the manner in which the Commission is conducting its business?” he added.