Oppn attacks Centre over poll practices, party funding

The three fundamental conditions for a fair election — level playing field, transparency, and credibility — have been systematically undermined, the Opposition alleged on Thursday, while claiming that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had “become a puppet of the government”.

- HT Correspondents

“India is the mother of democracy, but the facts I present today in this house scream that this birthplace may no longer be alive in India,” Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged, while addressing the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on election reforms. He also argued that a level-playing field, transparency and credibility, conditions he described as fundamental to democratic functioning, had weakened.

‘Accusing the ECI of refusing to provide machine-readable electoral rolls, hiding IP addresses and destroying evidence within 45 days, Maken alleged: “Today, the Election Commission has become a puppet of the government”.