New Delhi, February 18 (HS): Congress has strongly objected to the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), calling it a hasty step. The party has termed it against the spirit of the Constitution.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement issued here today that the government has issued a notification for the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner in a hurry last midnight. This is against the spirit of the Constitution. He said that the Supreme Court has reiterated in many such cases that the CEC should be an impartial stakeholder for the sanctity of the electoral process.

He said that the amended law removed the CJI from the CEC selection panel and the government should have waited till the Supreme Court hearing on February 19 before selecting the CEC. He said that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had already said that this decision should have been postponed till the Supreme Court decides on this issue in accordance with the Constitution.

After the meeting of the CEC selection committee on Monday evening, Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the new CEC and Vivek Joshi as the EC late last night. Its formal notification was also issued.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar