MyVoice: Views of our readers 29th September 2026

ECI fracas is govt’s undoing

Apropos ‘The mess around the poll panel is govt’s own making’ (THI Sept 28). The government weakened the Election Commission by changing the rules for appointing commissioners, and now it complains when two of them question the Chief Election Commissioner’s actions. You cannot cut the legs off a chair and then blame it for wobbling.

If the selection process had been transparent and the law had been followed, this internal friction might never have surfaced. Public confidence in elections depends on an independent panel, not one chosen by a single minister. The government must fix the appointment process rather than attack those who raise questions. Accountability begins at home.

K Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru

Set the poll panel in order

This refers to “The mess around the poll panel is govt’s own making”. The continuing dispute over the Election Commission shows the difficulty of maintaining public trust when electoral institutions become subjects of intense political debate. Both the government and Opposition have a responsibility to raise concerns through constitutional and institutional channels.

The Commission should provide timely explanations whenever its decisions raise serious questions. This is particularly important during electoral-roll revisions, when even an administrative decision can directly affect a citizen’s participation in an election. Independent audits, transparent publication of relevant data and accessible complaint mechanisms could make the process more credible.

Parliament may also periodically examine whether the legal framework governing the commission provides sufficient institutional safeguards. Electoral administration should remain focused on accuracy, fairness and due process.

Pon Arunkumar, Namakkal-637202’

Institutional dialogue is need of the hour

Referring to “The mess around the poll panel is govt’s own making”, the debate over the appointment of Election Commissioners merits a broader institutional discussion. The present controversy shows why the process of selecting members of a constitutional body must command public confidence across political lines.

Whatever the legal position under the existing framework, periodic review of the appointment mechanism is healthy in a democracy. Parliament could consider whether additional safeguards, greater disclosure of qualifications and wider consultation would strengthen confidence in future appointments.

The Election Commission does not function only through laws; its authority also depends on citizens believing that electoral decisions are taken impartially. A credible, transparent appointment process would help protect that confidence over the long term.

P S Harishmitha, Vellakoil-638111

Differences can strengthen decision-making

With reference to “The mess around the poll panel is govt’s own making”, the reported differences among Election Commissioners should not automatically be treated as evidence of institutional failure. Constitutional bodies can contain differing views, and disagreement can sometimes strengthen decision-making when it is recorded and considered properly.

The important question is whether the Commission has clear procedures for handling such differences. Major decisions should ideally be supported by written reasons, relevant data and a documented decision-making process. Where commissioners disagree, their views should be recorded appropriately rather than becoming the subject of speculation outside the institution.

This would provide greater clarity to citizens and reduce political controversy around what is routine functioning. The commission should also communicate directly with the public instead of allowing competing interpretations to dominate the debate. Institutional transparency is ultimately the best safeguard against suspicion and misinformation.

B A Neboba, Perundurai-638052

Warangal tourism needs a bigger push

This refers to the article, “Telangana Tourism rolls out an array of initiatives.” In this regard, I would like to write about my recent travel experience in Warangal, which is a great tourism attraction and boasts of a rich history and cultural heritage. Sadly, there are no good hotels and restaurants in Warangal. Boating at Ramappa Lake and Laknavaram Lake needs a big push.

However, we found that most of the boats were idle and not being used to ferry tourists. While food remains a problem, there are no tourist guides at the famed Thousand Pillar temple, Ramappa temple and Warangal Fort.

Multilingual tourist guides should be made available at these spots to explain the region’s rich history and the valour of Kakatiya Kings who ruled Warangal. If the state government continues to sideline Warangal, it will fail to attract even domestic tourists.

Parimala G Tadas, Hyderabad-50

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