Lok Sabha Polls: 7-phase election in West Bengal proves EC is 'long arm of government', says Kapil Sibal
Kapil Sibal on Sunday said the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal is an evidence that the Election Commission is «a long arm of the government». Sibal also raised questions over the appointment of two election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu recently, saying they were appointed despite the fact that there is a Constitution bench judgment stating that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) should also be a member of the committee that recommends the names of appointees.
«As far as the seven phases (of the Lok Sabha polls in the country) are concerned, that was expected,» he told PTI Videos.
«In fact the way they appointed these two election commissioners despite the fact that there is a Constitution bench judgment saying that the CJI should also be a member of the committee. The way they have discarded the Constitution bench decision despite the challenge pending in the Supreme Court and the way they preponed the appointment, only shows that their intention was to have their own people there,» Sibal alleged.
He said the seven-phase election in West Bengal is just evidence that the Election Commission is «a long arm of the government».
The elections will begin on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference on Saturday.
Polling will be held in all seven phases in three states — Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The Trinamool Congress had expressed dismay over the
