HDK asks ECI to reveal facts

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clarify reports of differences among the three at the helm and place the facts before the public to protect the institution’s credibility.

He was responding to a question about the Congress protests, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had unilaterally made several decisions despite objections from the other two Election Commissioners. JD(S) is an NDA ally.

“My appeal to the Election Commission is this: What is the reason for these differences? What is the truth behind the developments? They should tell the people of the country what the facts are,” the Union Minister said, emphasising that the issue was not about giving importance to protests staged by political parties, but about understanding why such an atmosphere has arisen.

“The Election Commission should place the facts before the people and protect the dignity of the institution,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

The ECI, he said, was a responsible constitutional institution that had played an important role in sustaining democracy in the country over the past 78 years.