Election Commission Accountability Questioned Amid Governance Concerns

Questions have been raised about the Election Commission of India's accountability structures and its fitness to oversee elections in a politically fragmented landscape. The ECI is accountable to the government that appointed its commissioners and to Parliament, which holds the power to impeach and remove them under procedures similar to those for Supreme Court judges.

Impeachment of any ECI commissioner requires a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, followed by a two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting in both Houses. These constitutional safeguards are intended to protect the commission's independence while ensuring democratic accountability.