How can PMO summon ECI, asks Opposition

Congress MP Manish Tewari moves an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha on the matter

A meeting of the Election Commission of India (ECI) with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) last month that was reported on Friday caused the Opposition to cry foul and question the credibility of the poll body.

Congress MP Manish Tewari moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the matter. He wrote that the summoning of the ECI for a meeting with the principal secretary to the Prime Minister raised “serious questions of propriety and autonomy of the Election Commission”.

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a tweet: “This is atrocious. How can the PMO summon an independent Constitutional authority? One mandated to conduct free and fair elections? Worse how could the EC be so servile & attend?? over ECs neutrality & fairness. (sic)”