Mon Dec 23 10:53:30 UTC 2024: ## Stalin Condemns Election Rule Amendment as Assault on Democracy
**Chennai, December 23, 2024** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin has strongly criticized the recent amendment to Section 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, accusing the BJP-led Union government of undermining democratic principles. The amendment, he claims, will severely restrict public access to election-related documents, including crucial CCTV footage from polling booths.
Stalin’s statement, released on social media, follows a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disclose all documents pertaining to the Haryana Assembly elections. He alleges that the government’s move to prevent public inspection of these documents is a direct attack on transparency and a fundamental aspect of the Indian Constitution.
The Chief Minister further expressed concern that the amendment reflects the BJP’s anxieties extending beyond Haryana, particularly citing concerns over the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. He accused the ECI of succumbing to pressure from Prime Minister Modi’s government, compromising the integrity of the electoral process.
Stalin appealed to all political parties, including NDA allies, to oppose this “undemocratic assault” on free and fair elections. He characterized the amendment as the gravest threat to democracy under the current government.
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