Guwahati, Feb 3 (PTI) – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a more transparent process in selecting election commissioners, calling it "ironic" given the Congress party's past record.
Gandhi, speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, questioned the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee for election commissioners. Highlighting the current composition of the panel—comprising the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition—he remarked, "It is now just the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and me. Two to one. What's the purpose of me attending the meeting?"
Reacting sharply, Sarma took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse the Congress of hypocrisy, alleging that the party failed to ensure transparency during its decades in power. "Rahul Gandhi’s call for a transparent selection of election commissioners involving the Chief Justice of India is ironic, given that during Congress rule, appointments were made solely by the ruling government without any transparency," Sarma wrote.
He further questioned why Congress did not implement these reforms when it had the opportunity, asserting that the party’s stance now is mere political posturing. "This hypocrisy highlights their political posturing—preaching transparency now after years of opaque governance. The people of India can no longer be misled by such double standards. Practice what you preach before demanding trust," the Assam CM added.
The debate over election commission appointments has intensified, with opposition leaders calling for a more impartial process to ensure the credibility of the electoral system.
