"Extremely Compromised (EC) To...": Opposition Cheers Order On Poll Body

Opposition leaders today hailed the Supreme Court order over the appointments to the top election body in the country.

A panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India will be advising the President to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners, a five-judge bench said in a unanimous verdict aimed at "maintaining the purity of elections".

The Congress welcomed the Supreme Court ruling and said any conspiracy by the BJP to weaken India's democratic values will not succeed.

"The decision given by the Supreme Court is very significant. BJP's conspiracy to weaken democratic values will never succeed," Mr Surjewala tweeted in India.

"Article 324 should be amended to give an impartial Election Commission superintendence over internal processes of registered National and State Political Parties in terms of my Private Member's Bill," said Congress MP Manish Tewari.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien called it "huge" and did a wordplay to assert the Supreme Court order will make the Election Commission "extremely competent".

HUGE

So Extremely Compromised (EC) can again strive to become Extremely Competent (EC)

(Reaction to historic Supreme Court direction for appointment of election commissioners)

VIDEO

More on #instagram: https://t.co/xM4kJ9oRAA pic.twitter.com/tevOO13iwX

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) March 2, 2023

"HUGE. So Extremely Compromised (EC) can again strive to become Extremely Competent (EC)," said Mr O'Brien.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also welcomed the Supreme Court order.

Truly landmark orders by Hon'ble SC on both EC and Adani issues. We welcome both the orders.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 2, 2023

"Truly landmark orders by Hon'ble SC on both EC and Adani issues. We welcome both the orders," Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena called it a "landmark" order.

Truly landmark order from Supreme Court on top appointments of EC. A panel comprising PM, Leader of Opp/opposition leader of largest political party in Lok Sabha & the CJI for the top appointments in Election Commission.
Earlier it was the PM recommending names to the President.

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) March 2, 2023

"Truly landmark order from Supreme Court on top appointments of EC. A panel comprising PM, Leader of Opp/opposition leader of largest political party in Lok Sabha & the CJI for the top appointments in Election Commission. Earlier it was the PM recommending names to the President," said Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from the Thackeray camp.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, also welcomed the Supreme Court ruling.

"The ruling of the Hon'ble #SupremeCourt to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner of India on the advice of a 3 member committee comprising of the PM, LoP and CJI is a very welcome move, it will ensure that the Election process in our country functions transparently," said NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto.