Former EC member Ashok Lavasa suggests the selection panel for CEC, ECs include a fourth outside member; former SC judge Madan Lokur wants CEC appointments to be cleared by a two-thirds majority of MPs

As the Opposition mulls moving a motion of removal against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, experts and activists on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) said the appointment process for the CEC and the Election Commissioners (ECs) needs to be made “broad-based” and “transparent”.

Suggestions included a fourth member on the selection panel, the requirement of a two-thirds majority in Parliament to clear the appointment of a CEC, and public financing of poll campaigns.

At a conference on Electoral and Political Reforms organised by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), former members of the judiciary, former Election Commissioners, politicians and activists said there needed to be a rethink on the composition of the panel to select the CEC and the ECs, which was formed after the enactment of The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

The Act mandates a three-member selection committee headed by the Prime Minister. The other two members are a Union Minister nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha. The law was introduced after a March 2023 ruling by the Supreme Court that a selection panel should comprise the PM, the LoP, and the Chief Justice of India. The court had said the order would hold good until a law was made by Parliament.

Panel needs fourth member

Participating in a discussion on ‘The Impact of Election Commissioners’ Appointment Procedures on Electoral Credibility’, former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said that the government has scored a self-goal with the composition of the selection panel.

“This is one decision taken by the government because of which the image of the ECI has suffered,” he said. “We need to broad base the panel and have a fourth person who is from outside,” he added. Mr. Lavasa also called for the panel to suggest more than one name, adding that all the names could be put in the public domain. “What is the harm in people knowing who all are under consideration?” he asked.

‘Appoint CEC with two-third majority of MPs’

Justice Madan B. Lokur, a former Supreme Court judge, suggested two options which were debated in the constituent Assembly. First, the appointment of the CEC only after clearance by a two-thirds majority of a joint session of Parliament, so that the person is acceptable to all parties. Second, the creation of special Election Tribunals to decide all election petitions within a reasonable period of time without the current delays.

Congress MP Sasikant Senthil said the inclusion in the panel of a person from outside the political system, such as a Supreme Court judge, might be good as they can raise a “red flag” against anyone under consideration.

Public funding

Earlier, participating in another discussion on ‘Rebuilding Transparency in Political Finance Post-Electoral Bonds’, ORF senior fellow Niranjan Sahoo said that public funding of elections was a good solution for a level playing field for parties. In countries where this has been implemented, he noted, it has reduced the cost of elections substantially.

Former Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that if state funding of polls was introduced, then systems should be put in place to ensure that the money is not used for any other purpose.