'Why has PM removed CJI from CEC-picking panel?': Rahul Gandhi
What's the story
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday questioned the Narendra Modi government over its decision to exclude the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from a selection panel for appointing election commissioners. Speaking in Parliament on electoral reforms, Gandhi asked "Why was the CJI removed from the selection panel? Do we not believe in the CJI?" Posing three questions, he said it was very clear the BJP was "directing and using the ECI to damage India's democracy."
Questions
3 questions by Gandhi
"The first question, why is it that the CJI was removed from the selection panel of the Election Commissioner?... On one side, PM Modi and HM Amit Shah." "On the other side, the leader of the opposition. I have no voice in that room. What they decide is what happens. So the first question, why is the Prime Minister and Amit Shah so keen on choosing exactly who the election commissioner is going to be?"
Gandhi
ECI captured, claims LoP
He alleged that the ECI was captured. "The project of RSS was to capture the institutional framework of the country...Vice Chancellor after Vice Chancellor...is placed not on merit, capability..but on the fact that he belongs to a particular organization," he claimed. "Second capture which helps in destroying democracy. The capture of the intelligence agencies...the CBI...ED...Income Tax Department. And the systematic placement of bureaucrats who favor their ideology and attack the opposition and anybody who chooses to oppose the RSS."
Twitter Post
'They changed the law'
#WATCH | In the Lok Sabha, LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "No Prime Minister has done this in the history of India. In December 2023, this government changed the law. They changed the law to make sure that no Election Commissioner could be punished for any action they… https://t.co/yZsL2Cx6kO pic.twitter.com/5nIZQXxilS
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025
Legal protection
Gandhi questions immunity for election commissioners
Gandhi, who is also a member of the selection panel as the Leader of Opposition, also questioned why another law was passed to protect Election Commissioners from actions taken in their official capacity. He was referring to Clause 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. This clause shields the poll body chief and Election Commissioners from any legal action arising out of decisions made while in office.