Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday said that he “regrets” having supported a 2023 law introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government to change the process of appointing election commissioners, The News Minute reported.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress leader accused the state poll panel of bias during nominations for the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh. His comments came amid reports of alleged political violence between the YSR Congress and the state’s ruling Telugu Desam Party.
The TDP is a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The 2023 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office Act states that the head of the poll panel and the two other top members are to be appointed based on the recommendations of a selection committee comprising the prime minister, a Union Cabinet minister and the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The composition of the panel means that the government enjoys a 2:1 majority over the leader of the Opposition, if there is a difference of opinion.
On Sunday, Reddy described his party’s support for the law as “a mistake” and said that the appointments of election commissioners at all levels should be “neutral”, The News Minute reported.
“An examiner cannot be appointed by the...