Key Points
The Election Commission of India is learnt to be mulling over ways to address the concerns raised by INDIA bloc parties over "erosion of level playing field" due to the alleged "blatant and audacious misuse" of central agencies by the BJP-led government..
Assessments within ECI indicate that legal and constitutional readings do not give much latitude to the panel in terms of specific actions, ET has gathered..
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, ECI had issued an advisory to enforcement agencies, asking them to ensure neutrality and keep the panel informed of their actions...
"This Election Commission strongly advises that all enforcement actions during the election period, even when conducted ruthlessly with a view to curb that blatant electoral malpractice (of using money power to influence voter behaviour), be absolutely neutral, impartial and non- discriminatory," the ECI advisory dated 07.04.2019 said.. Unhappy with the CBDT response to its advisory and specific communication in this regard, the poll panel even conveyed its displeasure to the then CBDT chairman PC Mody and revenue secretary AB Pandey in a one-on-one meeting...
Pointing out a series of actions by central enforcement agencies against Opposition leaders just ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition parties urged ECI to bring in a mechanism to ensure prior vetting of such arrests and raids amid the period of model code of conduct...
