Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, 25 September 2026, demanded an amendment to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, arguing that the current appointment framework has eroded public trust in the Election Commission of India (ECI). Jagan called for reinstating a three-member selection committee comprising the Leader of Opposition (LoP), the Chief Justice of India (CJI), and the Prime Minister — the structure that existed before the 2023 law removed the CJI from the panel.

What Jagan Said

In a post on X, Jagan stated that democracy can endure only when citizens have complete confidence in constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission. He urged the Central government to proactively restore that confidence through legislative action, rather than allowing the current controversy to fester.

'In a democracy, transparency should not only prevail but should also appear to have prevailed. The very bill, which we supported then, should be revisited now in the current context. The Central government should come forward, set the norm in place, and dispel this fear. An amendment to the bill should be brought forward where the Election Commissioner is appointed by the three-member committee of LoP, CJI and the Prime Minister once again,' Jagan said in his post.

He also used an analogy to underscore the structural concern: 'A student appointing the examiner is always prone to allegations even though the examiner is thoroughly honest, and it is always better to replace the process with someone neutral.'

The Trigger: Row Over CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Jagan's remarks constitute his first public reaction to the ongoing controversy involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to national media reports cited by Jagan, two Election Commissioners reportedly raised objections on multiple occasions — regarding decisions, electoral rolls, and the management of the ECINet system — raising questions in the public domain about transparency and internal functioning. Jagan argued that citizens deserve clarity on what objections were recorded, what follow-up action was taken, and how electoral roll changes — additions, deletions, and restorations — were handled.

YSRCP's Grievances in Andhra Pradesh

Beyond the national debate, Jagan also drew on the party's own experience in Andhra Pradesh. He alleged that during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state, the ruling party misused its authority, and that YSRCP's appeals were repeatedly ignored. He further stated that in local body elections, the party's objections to the manner in which ward divisions were redrawn were dismissed without adequate consideration.

'Such actions undoubtedly weaken public confidence in the electoral process. Transparency and accountability are the true measures of how any institution functions in a democracy, and safeguarding them is that institution's primary duty,' he said.

Background: The 2023 Act and the Removal of the CJI

The CEC and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 replaced the earlier convention — and a Supreme Court direction — that had included the CJI in the appointment committee. Critics had argued at the time that removing the CJI effectively concentrated appointment power with the executive. Ironically, the YSRCP had supported the bill's passage in Parliament in 2023; Jagan's current call for amendment represents a reversal of that position, which he acknowledged directly. This comes amid a broader national debate about the independence of constitutional bodies, and the CEC controversy has given opposition parties fresh ground to press the case for structural reform.

What Happens Next

Jagan's demand adds to growing pressure from opposition quarters for the Centre to revisit the 2023 Act. Whether the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government will engage with these demands remains to be seen. The controversy around CEC Gyanesh Kumar is still unfolding, and more political voices are expected to weigh in as the debate over the ECI's independence intensifies.