Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the Election Commission for circulating a document with the ruling party’s seal to other political parties, calling it a breach of neutrality. Vijayan condemned police actions against those criticizing the incident in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, emphasizing the importance of political neutrality for constitutional bodies. He highlighted that criticism is a democratic right and sending police notices to critics is undemocratic.
Vijayan stressed that non-defamatory criticism should be considered a legitimate expression of opinion and criticized the use of police machinery for issuing notices. He pointed out that the circulation of the document without proper scrutiny by senior authorities raises serious concerns about institutional integrity. The Chief Minister emphasized that the credibility of institutions like the Election Commission depends on their impartial functioning and neutrality in all actions.
The Chief Electoral Officer has promised an inquiry into the matter, following which Vijayan urged for the public disclosure of findings to reassure political parties and citizens. The controversy arose when a circular from the Election Commission, bearing the ruling party’s seal, was distributed to other parties, sparking a political uproar. Opposition parties raised concerns about a possible inappropriate connection between the Commission and the ruling party.
Amid reports of police action against social media critics, the Chief Minister’s intervention highlights the debate on institutional accountability and democratic freedoms, emphasizing the need for transparency and impartiality in the functioning of key institutions.
