YS Jagan Calls for Greater Transparency and Public Confidence in Election Commission

 Tadepalli, September 25: YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stressed the need to strengthen public confidence in constitutional institutions, particularly the Election Commission, stating that democracy can function effectively only when people have complete faith in the electoral system.

In a social media post, Jagan referred to national media reports that two Election Commissioners had raised objections on several occasions regarding decisions, electoral rolls and the management of ECINet. He said these reports had created serious questions and doubts among the public and called for clarity on what objections were recorded, what action was taken on them and how transparently the system functioned, particularly in matters relating to the addition, deletion and restoration of names in electoral rolls.

Jagan said transparency in a democracy should not only prevail but should also be seen to have prevailed. He called for the **Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023**, which was supported by his party at the time, to be revisited in the present circumstances.

He proposed that the appointment process be amended so that the Election Commissioners are selected by a three-member committee comprising the **Leader of Opposition, Chief Justice of India and Prime Minister**. He said a neutral appointment process would help restore the esteem and public confidence of the Election Commission.

Jagan also referred to the **Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Andhra Pradesh**, stating that the ruling party had misused its authority and that several appeals made by the opposition had gone unheard. He further stated that during the local body election process, objections raised by the opposition regarding the manner in which divisions were redrawn were brushed aside.

He said transparency and accountability are the true measures of the functioning of any democratic institution and that safeguarding them must remain the primary responsibility of the institution.