Jagan Reddy Calls to Revisit Election Commissioner Appointment Law After Previously Supporting the Legislation

NDTV News•Published: Sep 26, 2026 11:12 AM IST

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged the central government to amend the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners to restore public trust. His call follows reports that two Election Commissioners raised multiple objections regarding electoral roll management and database access, sparking concerns over the transparency of the Election Commission.

Appointment Process Reform: Reddy proposed reverting to a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India to ensure neutrality.
Internal Objections: The demand follows media reports indicating that Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections 14 times over 10 months.
Allegations of Misuse: Reddy cited his party's experiences during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Andhra Pradesh, claiming the ruling party misused authority to influence electoral processes.

The Context & Background

This shift in stance comes after Reddy’s YSR Congress Party originally supported the 2023 Act during its passage in Parliament. The Election Commission has since defended its operations, stating that all orders carry full legal sanction and that internal queries are a standard part of their drafting procedures.

Why it matters:The debate over the Election Commission's independence is critical to the health of Indian democracy. By questioning the appointment process, Reddy highlights the tension between executive control and institutional autonomy, which directly impacts voter confidence and the perceived integrity of the electoral process in the world's largest democracy.

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