Shielding the Constitution

The rejection of an I.N.D.I.A. bloc motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan was a deliberate decision that reflects the Modi government’s determination to shield the constitutional authority from partisan accusations and an acrimonious debate in Parliament. The decisions also keep in mind that the petitions were driven by the immediacy of elections in opposition-ruled states. The Trinamool Congress, in particular, has repeatedly clashed with the CEC over implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

The I.N.D.I.A. bloc petition was a quid pro quo for Trinamool supporting the no-confidence motion against Birla, which was defeated in the Budget Session. The two presiding officers rightly held that the bar is set high for evidence against a constitutional authority and there were no judicial proceedings against the CEC nor was a case of impropriety made out. Although the decision of the presiding officers was criticised by the opposition, the urgency of the petitions will likely fade by the time Parliament reconvenes for the Monsoon Session. By then, the impeachment moves will lose relevance. If the petitions were an attempt to browbeat the CEC, the move does not seem to have worked. The Election Commission continues to transfer officers in all poll-bound states and made public its intention to ensure fair and free voting. Although it has asked tough questions about SIR, the Supreme Court has not found the revision of the electoral rolls either constitutionally untenable or procedurally flawed.

Two-Way Street

As the election in Tamil Nadu heads for a tense finish, questions are being asked about the delay in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister MK Stalin jointly addressing a rally. Congress had bargained hard for its share of 28 seats, deputing P Chidambaram to hold discussions with Stalin who increased the party’s seat share out of ‘respect’ for the veteran leader. But Congress is hardly to be seen on the ground. In the past, allies like RJD have complained about Congress letting down the opposition. When Congress contested on its own in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh state polls, it won two of the 399 seats where it fielded candidates.

Community Concerns on X

Users of the social media platform X have often been stonewalled by formulaic replies to complaints against being unfairly targeted while trolls conveniently hid behind anonymous handles. The changes in digital and information technology rules makes social media platforms more accountable but a section of activists claims scrutiny of community notes intended to add context to a post will harm transparency. The matter will, in all probability, land in court but the notes have proved useful as they work as a kind of fact-check mechanism. It may be best to evaluate the validity of the notes on a case-by-case basis.

India Waits for Balen

Nepal’s new prime minister, the 35-year-old Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah, will be visiting India soon. This will be Shah’s first major engagement after becoming prime minister and reflects the Modi government’s keenness to build bridges with the new government in Kathmandu. Former Nepal prime minister KP Sharma Oli waited for months for an elusive invitation from New Delhi before he was forced to resign in the face of an uprising led by Gen Z and fuelled by public anger over corruption and inflation that finally came to a head over an ill-considered social media ban.

Rain Challenge

As Delhi-NCR prepares for the summer with temperatures poised to rise, concerns about the monsoon have taken centrestage. The first official forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted sub-par rains but the problem is that changing climate patterns has meant intense spells that overwhelm roads. Administrations in Delhi and neighbouring districts are making the right noises but there are serious concerns whether anything will change.

Pakistani Terror

Over the past few years, the Indian embassy in the US has held exhibitions labelled 'The Human Cost of Terrorism' to highlight the hollowness of Pakistan’s claims to being a ‘victim’ of terror in order to deflect attention from its record of sponsoring jihadist organisations. This year, too, a HCOT exhibition will be held to mark one year since Pakistani infiltrators killed 26 male tourists in front of their families in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir. The exhibition, to be held on Capitol Hill, will detail the role of Pakistan and terrorist groups based on its soil in targeting India with links to major terrorist plots worldwide.

China's Dilemma

The inconclusive Iran war exposed the limits of US military might and has led to speculation whether China might be encouraged to move against Taiwan. But continued sackings of senior military leaders and diplomats have placed a question mark over Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s ability to embark on a major military adventure. The summary sackings, accompanied by charges of disloyalty and unauthorised contact with foreigners, have shaken the chains of command and it is felt that Xi needs to ensure loyalists are completely in control.