Priyanka Tiwari
Share
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has sharply criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling it a "dysfunctional" and "failed" institution. Sibal claimed that the public’s faith in the Commission has eroded due to its alleged inability to fulfill its constitutional duties.
In an interview with PTI, Sibal emphasized the need to address concerns over the credibility of the Election Commission. "The Election Commission has not executed its functions in line with its constitutional responsibilities," he said, responding to the allegations made by Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) regarding discrepancies in voter lists. "It is a failed institution. A large section of the Indian population no longer trusts it. The quicker this issue is addressed, the better it will be for democracy’s survival."
The former Congress leader also raised alarms over potential manipulations within India’s electoral processes. "Beyond the concerns with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), there are deeper issues indicating the electoral process is being compromised," he stated. Sibal argued that opposition parties must unite to confront these challenges.
These comments come amid ongoing concerns voiced by the INDIA alliance about irregularities in voter lists, including unexplained deletions, abnormal additions, and duplicate voter IDs. In response, the Election Commission has convened all-party meetings to address polling booth-level issues and is exploring the possibility of linking voter IDs with Aadhaar to streamline the voter registration process.
Sibal also urged the opposition alliance, INDIA, to act cohesively, stressing the importance of presenting a unified front on national issues. He pointed out that the alliance must have a formalized structure and clear spokespersons to avoid disunity in public representation. "INDIA should present itself as a bloc and not disband in public," he remarked, calling for a common ideological framework and structured plan moving forward.
Regarding tensions within the INDIA bloc during recent state elections, Sibal stressed that a coordinated approach was essential for effectiveness. "Without a cohesive mechanism and official spokespersons, the alliance will struggle to function efficiently," he noted.
Although Sibal has long advocated for a formalized structure within the opposition, he acknowledged resistance from certain members. "Some parties feel this structure is unappealing, or believe it’s not the right time. But I can’t speak on behalf of the entire bloc," he explained. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful for the opposition's future. "The opposition has a future. The form it takes, we’ll have to see."
On the potential introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill during the ongoing Budget session, Sibal suggested that the stance of NDA’s coalition partners would be critical. He pointed out that the BJP lacks a majority on its own, and the political implications in Bihar, with upcoming elections, could shape the bill’s fate.
Sibal also raised concerns about the proposed delimitation exercise, which seeks to redraw electoral constituencies. Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recent meeting with opposition leaders on this issue, Sibal argued that a fresh census is necessary before the process can proceed. "A new census is required first, as the last one has not been conducted since 2021. Until then, ‘Dilli abhi door hai’ (Delhi is still far)," he remarked.
A former Union minister under the UPA government, Sibal left Congress in 2022 and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent, with support from the Samajwadi Party.
