PM Panel Fails to Reach Consensus on CIC, Rahul Gandhi Raises Concerns Over Representation

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A high-stakes meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's committee and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi ended without a consensus on the selection of the new Chief Information Commissioner. The panel, which includes Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Gandhi, was tasked with selecting candidates for key positions in the vigilance commission and information commission. Gandhi voiced strong objections to the shortlisted candidates, citing a lack of representation from marginalized communities, including Dalits, tribals, and minorities, who comprise nearly 90% of India's population. He had previously raised this issue, alleging that these communities are systematically excluded from decision-making positions. In a bid to address Gandhi's concerns, Modi and Shah agreed to consider a few appointments from the limited applicant pool. However, the outcome of the meeting remains uncertain, with no confirmation from the government side. The post of Chief Information Commissioner has been vacant since September, while eight information commissioner positions have been vacant since November 2023. Gandhi's dissent note is the third time he has objected to the selection process, having previously raised concerns over the composition of the Election Commission and National Human Rights Commission. According to sources, Gandhi had requested caste composition data from applicants several weeks ago, but was only provided with the information on Wednesday. The data revealed that less than 7% of applicants and only one shortlisted candidate were from scheduled castes, further fueling Gandhi's concerns over representation.