Delhi/Hyderabad, Feb 18 (Maxim News): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Modi government for appointing Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in a late-night decision. Kumar, a retired IAS officer from Kerala, replaces Rajiv Kumar, who recently retired.
Rahul Gandhi questioned the urgency of the appointment, especially since the selection committee’s composition is under Supreme Court review.
“The Modi government has raised serious concerns about the fairness of our elections by ignoring the Supreme Court’s order and removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
Rahul Gandhi’s Objection and Supreme Court Case
As a member of the selection panel, Rahul Gandhi submitted a formal objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He argued that a fair and independent Election Commission requires a transparent selection process, free from political influence.
“As Leader of the Opposition, it is my responsibility to protect the values of Babasaheb Ambedkar and our founding leaders. The PM and HM’s late-night appointment of the CEC is disrespectful, especially when the Supreme Court is set to hear the case in just 48 hours,” he said.
Supreme Court Ruling and Govt’s Change in Law
Rahul Gandhi pointed to a March 2, 2023, Supreme Court ruling, which stated that the CEC and Election Commissioners should be chosen by a panel including the PM, the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. However, in August 2023, the government changed the law, replacing the Chief Justice with a Union Cabinet Minister chosen by the PM—a move he called a “clear violation” of the court’s decision.
The Supreme Court is set to hear the case on February 19, and Rahul Gandhi urged the government to delay the appointment until the verdict is given.
“Rushing this appointment now weakens our institutions and goes against the values our founding leaders stood for,” he said. (Maxim News)
More Stories…
Telangana Government Calls For Convergence Of Departments To End Human Trafficking And Bonded Labour
DGP calls for proactive identification of victims, timely investigations, and strong convictions Hyderabad, 19th April 2026: The Women Safety Wing (WSW), Telangana Police, in collaboration with the International Justice Mission (IJM), conducted a State-Level Convergence Workshop on Combating Human Trafficking Pertaining to Bonded Labour at Marigold Hotel, Begumpet, Hyderabad. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp The workshop brought together over 200…
Indo-US Trade Deal May Hurt Small Businesses: Hyderabad DCC Chief
Hyderabad, April 18: The Indo US trade deal may hurt small businesses and industries, Hyderabad District Congress Committee president Syed Khalid Saifullah said on Saturday. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp He criticised the agreement while addressing a Maha Dharna organised by the Indian Youth Congress at Indira Park. He warned that rising imports from the…
Rahul Gandhi Questions New Women Reservation Bill Move
Hyderabad, April 18: Rahul Gandhi questioned the Centre over introducing a new Women Reservation Bill despite the earlier law passed in 2023. He made the remarks while addressing a public rally in Tamil Nadu. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp He alleged that the new proposal included delimitation provisions within the bill. According to him,…
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News update
