During a heated Winter Session exchange, Rahul Gandhi questioned legal immunity for Election Commissioners and CCTV rules, while Amit Shah rejected the accusations as political posturing.

Rahul Gandhi Challenges Amit Shah on Election Reforms in Lok Sabha Clash

A routine Winter Session discussion escalated into a sharp confrontation on Tuesday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pressed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on key electoral reform concerns. Gandhi questioned why Election Commissioners were granted legal immunity, why polling station CCTV footage auto-deletes after 45 days, and why the Chief Justice of India was removed from the selection panel for the Chief Election Commissioner.

Amit Shah dismissed the accusations as recycled Congress rhetoric, defending the 2023 legislation that replaced the Chief Justice with a cabinet minister on the selection committee. He argued the changes strengthened institutional accountability and accused the Congress of ignoring electoral integrity when in power.

The session grew increasingly tense, with frequent interruptions from both sides. Gandhi insisted the government was avoiding answers on transparency, while Shah countered by invoking historical allegations against past Congress leadership. The opposition eventually staged a walkout, later suggesting Shah appeared “uneasy”a claim amplified by reports that he was running a fever during the debate.

The fiery exchange underscores how elections particularly credibility of voter rolls and oversight remain the most politically sensitive battlefield ahead of 2026 state polls and future national contests. Gandhi’s focus on procedural transparency connects with broader concerns raised by opposition parties, while Shah’s defense reiterates the government’s stance that reforms modernize, not weaken, the system.

For voters, the debate highlights a crucial question: who controls election oversight, and how independent should that system be?