When Election Commission was rocked by internal disputes

The Election Commission of India has experienced significant internal conflicts throughout its history, with disputes occasionally erupting into public controversy. A major flashpoint occurred when former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan challenged in court the appointment of two Election Commissioners, questioning the legitimacy of their positions. Another shocking episode unfolded when N. Gopalaswami, a subsequent Chief Election Commissioner, made a suo motu recommendation to the President for the removal of Navin Chawla, who was serving as an Election Commissioner at the time.

These internal disputes have deep roots in the institution's evolution. From Sukumar Sen's tenure during India's first general election in 1951-52 until October 16, 1986, the Election Commission operated with only the Chief Election Commissioner as its sole member. The transition to a multi-member commission began in October 1989 under the Rajiv Gandhi government, when the President appointed additional Election Commissioners to handle increased workload following the lowering of the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. However, political observers viewed this move as an attempt to constrain the Chief Election Commissioner. The multi-member arrangement proved short-lived, as the incoming V.P. Singh government opposed the appointments and the President revoked the notification. Following a Supreme Court ruling in S.S. Dhanoa v. Union of India (1991) that affirmed the President's discretion in determining the number of Election Commissioners, a three-member commission was eventually established in October 1993 with the appointment of M.S. Gill and G.V.G. Krishnamurthy.