BJP says EC Supreme Court notification, Center shows independence of institutions

BJP National Spokesperson and Member of Parliament Dr. Sambit Patra addressing the media about the Election Commissioner at the BJP headquarters. File | Photo credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

The Supreme Court’s decision to issue a notice to the government and the Election Commission (EC) on Monday (October 5, 2026) while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition demonstrated a functioning democratic process that negated opposition allegations of an “atmosphere of fear” in the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said.

The Supreme Court issued summons in which it demanded responses within a week to the plea challenging decisions allegedly taken by the EC without the consent of the two election commissioners.

Asked at a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Going to the Supreme Court with a PIL, having it heard by the Supreme Court and issuing a notice so that the other side can be heard is a democratic and judicial process. So the process is naturally going on.”

Referring to the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and reported dissenting notes written by two other Election Commissioners, Mr Patra said communication between the two Election Commissioners and the CEC was a “healthy sign of democracy”.

“Expressing differences through letters, raising questions about the process, having debate and discussion and then moving forward with consensus, that’s democracy,” he said.

He added: “And then going to the Supreme Court about this whole process and the Supreme Court issuing a notice – that’s democracy.” Mr Patra said those who claimed the country was under dictatorship and an “atmosphere of fear” would now think twice before making such claims.

“There is no atmosphere of fear in the country. There is an atmosphere of democracy in the country… (A)ll the institutions of the country are functioning independently and all the institutions are free to discharge their duties under the Constitution of India. You have proof of that in front of you today,” he said.

Law and Order in Punjab

Mr. Patra also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for the sake of Punjab and Haryana The High Court order, which governs the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is probing corruption allegations leveled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s officer on special duty and his close aides.

“We know the law and order situation in Punjab since the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power… In just 48 hours there have been four murders… An influential social media personality who was quite famous in Punjab and who was also a make-up artist was murdered yesterday,” Mr Patra said.

“When police constables and policemen themselves are being killed, how can the Punjab government protect the common man and the common citizen? That is also something to think about,” he said, referring to several recent cases.

Published – 05 Oct 2026 20:32 IST