Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday submitted a formal note of dissent during a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, sources confirmed. The meeting, held to finalise appointments to crucial transparency institutions—including the Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)—lasted nearly an hour and a half.
Sources indicated that Gandhi objected to the names proposed by the government for these key positions and formally recorded his disagreement in writing. As the Leader of the Opposition, Gandhi is a statutory member of the selection committees responsible for appointing heads of these watchdog bodies.
According to insiders, Gandhi has consistently raised concerns that the government is attempting to undermine the autonomy and independence of institutions meant to ensure transparency and accountability. His dissent in Wednesday’s meeting was described as a continuation of those long-standing objections.
The move highlights ongoing tensions between the opposition and the government over the selection process for institutions that play a critical role in oversight and anti-corruption mechanisms.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi escalated his criticism of the BJP government on another front, accusing it of turning the Election Commission (EC) into a “tool for vote chori” (vote theft). In a post on social media platform X, he shared a clip of his Lok Sabha speech and posed three pointed questions regarding recent amendments to election laws:
The removal of the Chief Justice of India from the panel that selects Election Commissioners.
The grant of near-total legal immunity to the Election Commission ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The decision to allow the destruction of CCTV footage from polling stations within 45 days.
“The answer is one,” Gandhi asserted, “BJP is turning the Election Commission into a tool for vote theft.”
In a forceful speech during a discussion on election reforms on Tuesday, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission were “colluding to destroy India’s democracy” and “rob people of their voice.” He claimed the ruling party is “directing and using” the EC to damage democratic institutions.
Gandhi also put forward several suggestions for reform, including:
Providing machine-readable voter lists to all political parties one month before elections.
Reversing the law that permits the destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days.
Granting enhanced access to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for greater transparency.
Amending the law that, in his view, allows election commissioners to act without sufficient accountability.
The dual-pronged criticism from the Leader of the Opposition—targeting both the appointment process for transparency bodies and the functioning of the Election Commission—signals a sharpening political battle over the integrity and independence of India’s key democratic institutions in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
The government has yet to issue an official response to Gandhi’s allegations or his dissent in the selection committee meeting.
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