Congress Forms 'EAGLE' to Oversee Conduct of Free and Fair Elections By ECI

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday announced the formation of Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts (EAGLE) to oversee free and fair elections by the Election Commission of India.

The newly formed EAGLE committee, comprising senior Congress leaders such as Ajay Maken, Digvijaya Singh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Praveen Chakravarty, Pawan Khera, Gurdeep Singh Sappal, Nitin Raut, and Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy, has been tasked with overseeing the conduct of free and fair elections by the Election Commission of India.

The EAGLE committee’s immediate focus will be investigating allegations of voters’ list manipulation in Maharashtra , with plans to prepare and submit a detailed report to the party leadership as soon as possible.

“This committee will first take up the Maharashtra voters’ list manipulation issue, and submit a detailed report to the leadership at the earliest. EAGLE will also analyse past elections in other states, and proactively monitor upcoming elections and all other issues related to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country,” Congress said in a statement.

In addition to addressing the Maharashtra issue, EAGLE will analyze the conduct of past elections in other states, monitor upcoming elections, and tackle broader concerns regarding electoral integrity, ensuring any irregularities are swiftly reported and acted upon.

Significantly, the setting up of the panel comes just days before the Delhi Assembly polls.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had last month alleged that there is a "serious problem" with the country's election system and that the Election Commission needs to ensure there is transparency in polls.

Maintaining that "something wrong" has taken place in Maharashtra assembly elections, he had said the Congress and the opposition have been asking for voter lists of Maharashtra and Haryana elections, which the EC is refusing to provide.

He had demanded that the EC come clean on the issue.

Gandhi, while addressing Congress leaders at the inauguration of the new party headquarters on January 15, had alleged there has been an increase of nearly one crore voters between Maharashtra Lok Sabha and assembly elections but the Election Commission is neither answering the queries raised by the opposition nor giving the lists of voters.

(with agency inputs)