Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, asked three questions to the Centre and presented four demands before the government while speaking during the debate on the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

He raised questions on the panel that selects the chief and other election commissioners of the poll body, as well as on the instructions for accessibility of the CCTV footage recorded during polls.

Rahul Gandhi’s 3 questions

Following a ruckus in the Lower House of the Parliament during a debate on the electoral reforms, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said he wanted to ask three questions "which will make it clear that the BJP is directing and using the EC to damage India’s democracy".

  1. CJI’s removal from selection panel for election commissioners

"Why was the CJI removed from the selection panel for appointing election commissioners? What motivation could there be to remove the CJI?" Rahul Gandhi asked, "Why is the Prime Minister and Amit Shah so keen on choosing exactly who the election commissioner would be?"

Gandhi said that he himself was also a part of the selection panel as the LoP, but claimed that he had no voice in the committee as he was outnumbered by the other side, which had Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

The Congress leader went on to pose his second question, which he termed an "even more devastating one", saying that no Prime Minister in the history of India has done this.

While moving toward his question, Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha that in December 2023, the central government changed the law to ensure that no election commissioner could be penalised for any action they take while holding their post.

2. Immunity to election commissioners

"Why would the Prime Minister and home minister give this gift of immunity to the election commissioner? Why would they need to give this tremendous gift that no Prime Minister has ever given before to the election commissioner?"

He then moved on to his third question and asked about the .

3. CCTV recording of elections

"Why was the law with regards to CCTVs and the data that they contain changed? Why was a law put in place that allows the Election Commission to destroy CCTV footage 45 days after the election? What is the need?

Gandhi said that the answer given by the other side was that the law was brought in "as it is a question of data". The Congress rebutted, saying, "It is not a question of data; rather, it is a question of stealing the elections."

Rahul Gandhi’s 4 demands

After posing his three questions, Rahul Gandhi presented four demands, the “electoral reforms” that the Opposition wants.

He said:

1. Give a machine-readable voter list to all parties one month before elections.

2. Take back the law that allows the destruction of CCTV footage. Very simple, not difficult.

3. Also, tell us what the architecture of the EVM (electronic voting machine) is. Give us access to the EVM. Let our experts see what is inside the EVMs. Till today, we have not had access to the EVM.

4. Finally, please change the law that allows the election commissioner to get away with whatever he wants to do.

Rahul Gandhi said he wanted to “assure” the CEC and ECs that the Opposition will get the law changed, adding that they are actively working towards it. “And then, we will come and find you,” the LoP added.

EC on video footage accessibility

In June this year, the Election Commission of India revised its rules for the accessibility of video footage recorded during polls, saying that

Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, located in New Delhi. Established by the Constitution of India in 1952, it is the primary legislative body where members are directly elected by the people. Its history is tied to India’s democratic journey, operating from the iconic Sansad Bhavan (Parliament House), a heritage building originally opened in 1927 during the British colonial era.

Parliament

The term “Parliament” most commonly refers to the Palace of Westminster in London, the meeting place of the UK’s Houses of Commons and Lords. The current Gothic Revival building was constructed between 1840 and 1870 after a fire destroyed much of the original medieval palace, though Westminster Hall, dating from 1097, survives at its core. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of British constitutional monarchy and democratic government.

Election Commission

The Election Commission is a governmental body responsible for overseeing and administering electoral processes to ensure free and fair elections. Its history varies by country, but modern independent commissions often emerged in the 20th century to reduce political interference, with India’s Election Commission (established 1950) being a prominent example. Its core functions include voter registration, monitoring campaign conduct, and certifying election results.

CJI

“CJI” most commonly refers to the **Chief Justice of India**, which is a title, not a physical place. As the head of the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court of India, the position was established with the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. The first CJI was **Justice Harilal J. Kania**, and the officeholder presides over the Supreme Court building in New Delhi, a site symbolizing judicial authority in the world’s largest democracy.

Prime Minister

“Prime Minister” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a political office. The role of a head of government, separate from a head of state, has its origins in 18th-century Britain with Sir Robert Walpole, who is generally considered the first Prime Minister. The title and the cabinet system of government have since been adopted by many countries around the world.

Amit Shah

“Amit Shah” is not a place or cultural site, but a prominent Indian politician. He is the current Minister of Home Affairs of India and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with a political career spanning several decades.

Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi is not a place or cultural site, but the current Prime Minister of India. He previously served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and has been a prominent figure in Indian politics since the early 2000s as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His political career and policies have significantly shaped contemporary India’s domestic and foreign affairs.

CEC

“CEC” most commonly refers to the **China Electronics Corporation**, a major state-owned enterprise in China’s electronics and information technology sector. It was founded in 1989 through the consolidation of various state-run electronics entities and has played a significant role in the country’s technological development and national defense industry. Today, it is a large conglomerate involved in research, manufacturing, and services across sectors like cybersecurity, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.