The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a fierce critique of the Election Commission of India (ECI), with Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj pointing out that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is behaving like a spokesperson for the BJP amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar.
The AAP Delhi State President Bharadwaj noted that the Modi government has appointed its “yes-man” as the Chief Election Commissioner—someone who beats the drum for the ruling party rather than safeguarding democratic integrity. Taking a sharp dig, he advised the CEC to install a portrait of former CEC T.N. Seshan in his office and reflect on it morning and evening for “purification of conscience.”
During a media interaction, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj came down heavily on the Chief Election Commissioner’s recent remarks, saying, “The Chief Election Commissioner is speaking as if he were a BJP cell president. It’s evident now that the Modi government has appointed a bureaucrat as CEC post-retirement only because he is their ‘yes man.’ This post-retirement appointment has turned into a jackpot for him—he has got the car, the bungalow, and the stature. In return, he is beating the drum for the government everywhere.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj added, “The Chief Election Commissioner should hang a photo of former CEC T.N. Seshan in his office and look at it every morning and evening. Perhaps that might help cleanse his conscience.”