‘Regret it now’: Ex-Andhra CM Jagan on backing 2023 EC appointment law, seeks reforms

New Delhi: YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday expressed regret over his party’s support for the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners. He called for an independent selection process to strengthen public trust in elections.

“Approving that, I am regretting it now,” Jagan said, referring to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

Neutral selection sought

Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Jagan compared elections with examinations.

“An examiner cannot be appointed by the student.”

He argued that even an honest Election Commissioner could face doubts about impartiality if the appointment process lacked neutrality. He sought a neutral mechanism for appointing State Election Commissioners, rather than leaving the decision to the chief minister.

Nomination obstruction alleged

Jagan accused the TDP-led NDA coalition of using violence and government machinery to block opposition candidates from contesting local body elections.

“The TDP-led NDA coalition is preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations for local body elections through attacks, intimidation and misuse of the police machinery,” he alleged.

He claimed attackers snatched nomination papers, assaulted party workers and kidnapped or intimidated their associates. He also accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of using officials, police and TDP supporters to influence the election process. Jagan cited alleged obstruction in Kadapa, Punganur and Tirupati. In Pulivendula, he accused police personnel of pelting stones and firing in the air to intimidate candidates. There was no immediate response from the TDP.

Voter rolls questioned

Jagan questioned why authorities announced the election schedule a day after releasing reservation details. He alleged that opposition parties had little time to prepare, while the government had advance information. He also claimed that the Special Intensive Revision identified 46 lakh fake voters, but authorities chose to use unrevised rolls. He alleged that ward and division boundaries favoured the ruling coalition.

Local election dates

Voting for 100 urban local bodies will take place on October 28, with results on October 30. MPTC and ZPTC elections are scheduled for November 3, followed by counting on November 5. Gram panchayat polls will take place on November 26, November 29 and December 2. Authorities will declare results after each phase.