A Call for Fair Play: Democracy's Level Playing Field in Question

Ajay Maken, a Congress Rajya Sabha member, criticizes the Election Commission for lacking impartiality and reducing the level playing field in Indian democracy. He highlights financial inequality between BJP and Congress, and accuses the government of using agencies to stifle opposition funding.

Ajay Maken, a Congress member of Rajya Sabha, on Thursday accused the Election Commission of being politically biased, raising questions about the survival of democracy in India without a fair electoral process.

During a discussion on election reforms, Maken argued that the Commission has compromised the three pillars of fair elections: level playing field, transparency, and credibility. He cited instances where the Commission allegedly manipulated voter data and obscured information from ongoing investigations.

Financial disparity between major political parties, namely BJP and Congress, was highlighted, with allegations of government agencies being misused to suppress opposition funding ahead of elections. Maken questioned how democracy could endure under these circumstances.

(With inputs from agencies.)