Ashok Lavasa on 'Vote Chori': ‘ECI Responses Sound Like They’re from Govt’
“The EC’s responses sound like they’re coming from the government.” Ex-EC Ashok Lavasa on trust and transperancy.
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Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa gets frank with journalist Poonam Agarwal on the trust deficit around India’s Election Commission.
A key concern raised is the EC’s lack of transparency, specifically regarding the sharing of votes, poll data, and CCTV camera footage. Lavasa emphasised that the people are the "principal stakeholder" in elections.
Lavasa suggested that the recent distancing of the EC from stakeholders like the media and civil society has "breached" public trust. He cautioned that the EC should never adopt an adversarial position.
On vote chori allegations, Lavasa says, “It is not the responsibility of the people, it is for the EC to come clear and say… we have looked at all your complaints and this is our finding.”
Regarding a recent press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner, Lavasa stated that if the purpose was to clear doubts, "it certainly didn't serve its purpose because it has led to more questions". He argued that public authorities must focus on the content of complaints rather than questioning the motives of those raising issues.
Specific EC decisions, such as the rule change restricting the sharing of documents and videography, were deemed "illtimed" and "bad optics". On the CEC’s press conference, he remarks, “If the purpose was to clear doubts, it certainly didn’t serve its purpose.”
Questioning the secrecy around CCTV footage, Lavasa asks, “What is the problem? More than bad timing, it was bad optics.”
And on the nationwide S.I.R, he is categorical: “For SIR, is asking for citizenship the EC’s mandate? No.”
“The Election Commission,” he says, “is the only body whose working does not depend on the government.”