Congress demands CEC's resignation before Parliament debate on electoral reforms

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that the party would not engage in the proposed parliamentary debate unless the Chief Election Commissioner resigned, characterizing the top election official as a "hatchet man" for the government.

Ramesh's remarks came a day after Home Minister Amit Shah publicly offered to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss electoral matters and challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to participate in the debate within the House.

The Congress leader's statement represents a significant escalation in the opposition's criticism of both the government and the Election Commission, reflecting deep tensions over electoral governance and institutional independence. The party has previously alleged partisan conduct by the poll panel, though specific details of the complaints were not elaborated in the latest exchange.

Shah's offer to hold a parliamentary debate appeared designed to put the Congress on the defensive by making a public gesture toward dialogue. However, Congress's precondition for participation—demanding the CEC's removal—suggests the party views the issue as one of institutional credibility rather than a matter open for conventional legislative debate.

The standoff underscores the ongoing friction between the ruling coalition and the opposition over the functioning of autonomous institutions, with electoral management becoming an increasingly contentious political issue ahead of state and national elections.