Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday attacked the Congress party, which is leading the INDIA bloc’s continued protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged SIR irregularities, and recalled its close relations with people who earlier held the CEC post.&nbsp;Union Minister Goyal further said that the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi and his childish actions are damaging every aspect of the Constitution.&nbsp;He said, “For the past few days, we have been seeing the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi, seeing his childish actions which demolish every aspect of the Constitution. I want to share some information with you regarding this and ask some questions to Rahul Gandhi. Congress questions the fairness of the Election Commission but overlooks its own track record.”&nbsp;“Congress raises questions about the Election Commission while ignoring its own track record. If you look at Rahul Gandhi’s (Congress’) track record, they gave a party ticket to one election commissioner, made another a minister, and appointed two as governors," Goyal said in a press conference on Tuesday.&nbsp;Goyal mentioned the names of four ex-CECs, including TN Seshan, MS Gill, RK Trivedi and Naveen Chawla, and listed how these officials were “rewarded” during the Congress regime.&nbsp;&nbsp;They fielded TN Seshan against LK Advani, Goyal said. Seshan served as the 10th CEC of India from 1990 to 1996 and was fielded by Congress from the Gandhinagar constituency in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, which he lost, saying, “In 1999, Congress gave Seshan the opportunity to contest on party ticket against L K Advani. If he had been administering the electoral system with such integrity as an election commissioner, was fielding him as a party candidate in such an important election against a leader like Advani not a way of rewarding him?”&nbsp;He further added, “M S Gill served as Chief Election Commissioner for five years, from 1996 to 2001. Interestingly, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. In 2000, while he was still the sitting Chief Election Commissioner, he was conferred India’s second-highest civilian honour. Was this not an inducement? Was it not, in effect, a form of bribery?”

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi and his childish actions are damaging every aspect of the Constitution. He named four ex-CECs, including TN Seshan, MS Gill, RK Trivedi and Naveen Chawla, and recalled how they were “rewarded” by Congress.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday attacked the Congress party, which is leading the INDIA bloc’s continued protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged SIR irregularities, and recalled its close relations with people who earlier held the CEC post. Union Minister Goyal further said that the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi and his childish actions are damaging every aspect of the Constitution. He said, “For the past few days, we have been seeing the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi, seeing his childish actions which demolish every aspect of the Constitution. I want to share some information with you regarding this and ask some questions to Rahul Gandhi. Congress questions the fairness of the Election Commission but overlooks its own track record.” “Congress raises questions about the Election Commission while ignoring its own track record. If you look at Rahul Gandhi’s (Congress’) track record, they gave a party ticket to one election commissioner, made another a minister, and appointed two as governors," Goyal said in a press conference on Tuesday. Goyal mentioned the names of four ex-CECs, including TN Seshan, MS Gill, RK Trivedi and Naveen Chawla, and listed how these officials were “rewarded” during the Congress regime. They fielded TN Seshan against LK Advani, Goyal said. Seshan served as the 10th CEC of India from 1990 to 1996 and was fielded by Congress from the Gandhinagar constituency in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, which he lost, saying, “In 1999, Congress gave Seshan the opportunity to contest on party ticket against L K Advani. If he had been administering the electoral system with such integrity as an election commissioner, was fielding him as a party candidate in such an important election against a leader like Advani not a way of rewarding him?” He further added, “M S Gill served as Chief Election Commissioner for five years, from 1996 to 2001. Interestingly, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. In 2000, while he was still the sitting Chief Election Commissioner, he was conferred India’s second-highest civilian honour. Was this not an inducement? Was it not, in effect, a form of bribery?”

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the conduct and double standards of Rahul Gandhi and his childish actions are damaging every aspect of the Constitution. He named four ex-CECs, including TN Seshan, MS Gill, RK Trivedi and Naveen Chawla, and recalled how they were “rewarded” by Congress.

‘Congress bribed CECs with Padma awards and political posts, now ignoring own track record,‘ says Piyush Goyal

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday (Mar 21) dismissed applications seeking a stay on the appointment of two new Election Commissioners, just days after the poll body announced dates for the Lok Sabha election this summer.

The top court asked the government to file a response within six weeks on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.

A few days ago, the government had filled two vacancies in the Election Commission of India (ECI), which arose following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey last month and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel.&nbsp;The government appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

“We are dismissing the applications for a stay on the appointment,” a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.

Petitions in the top court had challenged the validity of the new law, Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Act, 2023. One of their contentions is about the absence of Chief Justice of India in the selection panel for election commissioners.

“At this stage, we cannot stay the legislation or suspend its operation. It would lead to chaos and uncertainty and we cannot do it (stay) by way of an interim order. There are no allegations against the new election commissioners,” the bench told the petitioners, adding that it will examine the main petition.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-live-govt-launches-24x7-control-room-toll-free-helpline-for-polls-702503">Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Lok Sabha polls 2024</a>

The Supreme Court also questioned the central government for the speed with which the Search Committee shortlisted the candidates, and two Election Commissioners were selected.

<blockquote>
Supreme Court asks Centre to file a response within six weeks on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. <a href="https://t.co/6jgrhQ1KeT">https://t.co/6jgrhQ1KeT</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1770700775376719909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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The top court pointed out that it was not questioning the credentials of the Election Commissioners selected, but on the procedure in which the selection was made. 
&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;SC dismisses application seeking Electoral Bonds disclosure from before 2019

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-sc-dismisses-application-seeking-electoral-bonds-disclosure-from-before-2019-701461/embed" width="560"></iframe>

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(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday (Mar 21) dismissed applications seeking a stay on the appointment of two new Election Commissioners, just days after the poll body announced dates for the Lok Sabha election this summer.

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday (Mar 21) dismissed applications seeking a stay on the appointment of two new Election Commissioners, just days after the poll body announced dates for the Lok Sabha election this summer. The top court asked the government to file a response within six weeks on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. A few days ago, the government had filled two vacancies in the Election Commission of India (ECI), which arose following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey last month and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel. The government appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. “We are dismissing the applications for a stay on the appointment,” a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said. Petitions in the top court had challenged the validity of the new law, Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Act, 2023. One of their contentions is about the absence of Chief Justice of India in the selection panel for election commissioners. “At this stage, we cannot stay the legislation or suspend its operation. It would lead to chaos and uncertainty and we cannot do it (stay) by way of an interim order. There are no allegations against the new election commissioners,” the bench told the petitioners, adding that it will examine the main petition. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Lok Sabha polls 2024 The Supreme Court also questioned the central government for the speed with which the Search Committee shortlisted the candidates, and two Election Commissioners were selected. Supreme Court asks Centre to file a response within six weeks on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. https://t.co/6jgrhQ1KeT — ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2024 × The top court pointed out that it was not questioning the credentials of the Election Commissioners selected, but on the procedure in which the selection was made. Also watch | SC dismisses application seeking Electoral Bonds disclosure from before 2019 × (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha polls: Supreme Court dismisses pleas seeking stay on appointment of election commissioners

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