‘I’ve No Voice in the Room’: Rahul Questions CEC Selection Panel
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi speaks during debate on election reforms. (Image Sansad TV)
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slams government for removing CJI from the selection panel of CEC, saying it was done “to steal elections.”
By TRH Political Desk
New Delhi, December 9, 2025 — Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioned the motive behind removing the Chief Justice of India from the appointment panel for the Chief Election Commissioner of India. He alleged that the panel is now partisan as he has “no voice” in the decision-making process.
“What motivation could there be to remove the CJI? Do we not believe in the CJI? Of course, we believe in the CJI. Why is he not in that room,” asked the Congress leader while taking part in the discussion on election reform in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
He said that the composition of the panel has made his role redundant. “I sit in that room. It is a so-called democratic decision. On one side, PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah. On the other side, the leader of the opposition. I have no voice in that room,” said Gandhi.
He also stated that “what they decide (PM and HM) is what happens. So, why are the Prime Minister and Amit Shah so keen on choosing exactly who the Election Commissioner is going to be,” asked the Congress leader.
He claimed that “this is a devastating one. 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 take while they are 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,” added Gandhi.
The Congress leader also asked, “Why was the law with regard 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?”
Alleging that the issue involves “stealing the election”, Gandhi rejected the ECI argument on data. “It is not a question of data. It is a question of stealing the election,” he added.
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