Even as the opposition criticised the Election Commission of acting under pressure from the BJP government in the conduct of the electoral process, former President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday hailed the poll body for “perfectly” conducting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
He further said democracy succeed in India due to perfect conduct of polls by various Election Commissioners.
“If democracy has succeeded, it is largely due to perfect conduct of elections by Election Commissioners starting from Sukumar Sen to the present Election Commissioners,” he was quoted as saying by IANS at a book launch in the national capital.
His remarks come at a time when the Election Commission is being heavily criticised by both the opposition and the ruling government.
The opposition has accused the poll body of surrendering to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Even before the Lok Sabha elections started, Rahul and the Congress have been accusing the Election Commission of being biased and partial towards the ruling party and the prime minister.
PM Modi was given a clean chit in three cases, while party president Amit Shah was let off in one incident of violation of the model code of conduct during election campaigns.
Meanwhile, the BJP also slammed the EC for its role in West Bengal during the Lok Sabha polls where violence took place during every phase.
Pranab Mukherjee said all the three Commissioners are appointed by the executive and they are doing their job well.
“You cannot criticise them, it was perfect conduct of elections,” he said.