EC is a dysfunctional body, a failed institution: Kapil Sibal

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal has termed the Election Commission a "dysfunctional" and "failed" institution that a significant section of the public has lost faith in its ability to uphold constitutional responsibilities.
In an interview with PTI news agency, Sibal stressed the urgency of addressing concerns surrounding the poll body to safeguard democracy.
"The Election Commission is a dysfunctional body. It has not discharged its functions in accordance with the responsibilities expected of it under the Constitution," Sibal said when asked about allegations of voter list irregularities raised by the Congress and TMC.
Sibal said that the EC as it stands today is a "failed institution". He further added, "There is no confidence in the Election Commission among a large section of the people of this country. The quicker we deal with this issue, the greater is the chance of saving democracy."
He also pointed to broader issues within the electoral process, beyond concerns about electronic voting machines (EVMs). "Apart from the EVMs, there are some really serious issues that suggest the election process is polluted," he said, adding that election outcomes could have been influenced by manipulations at multiple levels. "We need to address that issue together," he asserted.
Sibal's remarks come as the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties continue to raise concerns over voter list discrepancies, including abnormal additions, unexpected deletions, and duplicate voter ID numbers.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced that over 4,000 electoral registration officers are holding all-party meetings to resolve pending polling booth-level issues in various assembly constituencies. These meetings align with the poll body's recent initiative to engage with political parties at multiple levels to address complaints.
The EC is also considering linking voter ID cards with Aadhaar and involving birth and death registration authorities to clean up electoral rolls.