Prashant Kishor argues the Election Commission favors the ruling party, criticizes the opposition’s inconsistent EVM stance, and emphasizes the need for CJI inclusion in the CEC selection to enhance credibility.
New Delhi: Jan Suraj convenor Prashant Kishor (PK) has alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is biased towards the ruling party. He stated that the credibility of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) would have been higher if the selection committee included the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
In an interview with Times Now Navbharat, Prashant Kishor, who is actively preparing for the Bihar Assembly elections, also criticized the opposition’s stance on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), calling it inconsistent and dishonest.
Prashant Kishor firmly reiterated that the Election Commission has often worked in favor of those in power.
“I had also said during the Bengal elections that the Election Commission is in favor of the ruling party. This is not the first time—those in power have always benefitted—but now, it is more visible.”
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Citing an example, he pointed out how the by-elections in Uttar Pradesh were extended due to the Chhath festival, even though Chhath is primarily celebrated in Bihar.
“This happened because BJP had suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha elections and needed more days for campaigning. This clearly shows that the Election Commission is in favor of the ruling party.”
Taking a dig at the opposition’s contradictory stance on EVMs, Kishor said:
“The talk of EVMs is dishonesty. If the opposition feels that EVMs are not correct, they should take a clear position and refuse to contest elections. But it is not right that when they win, EVMs are fine, and when they lose, EVMs are faulty.”
He also highlighted that the public has started questioning the credibility of national institutions, especially the Election Commission.
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“Everyone knows that the election schedule is decided as per the BJP’s wishes. During the Bengal elections, districts were divided into seven parts for voting, creating a perception that the Election Commission favors the government.”
Speaking on the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner, Kishor criticized the government for bypassing the Supreme Court’s recommendation.
“The Supreme Court ruled that the Chief Justice must be included in the committee selecting the CEC. But the government passed a law to exclude the CJI, ensuring that the ruling party maintains control over the process.”
He further added:
“If PM Modi and Amit Shah are in the selection process, it makes no difference if the other person is Rahul Gandhi or someone else. The decision will always be 2-1 in their favor.”
Kishor emphasized that including the CJI in the selection process would enhance the credibility of the Election Commission.
“Right now, there is no comment on the work of the current CEC, but the way he was appointed raises doubts. If the selection committee included the CJI, the Leader of Opposition, and the Prime Minister, the credibility of the Chief Election Commissioner would have been higher.”
His remarks have added fuel to the ongoing debate over institutional independence and electoral fairness in India.
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