EC 'spineless', influenced by political interests, says NCP

Speaking to reporters on Sunday after leading an NCP delegation to a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasiruddin at Nirbachan Bhaban, Patwary warned that the party may consider boycotting future polls if the commission fails to change course.

“As the days go by, it becomes increasingly clear to us that this is a spineless Election Commission,” he said. “We’re still giving them a chance—may good sense prevail and they return to the democratic process.”
Patwary accused the EC of creating conditions where democratic competition is stifled. “In the past, the people were denied the right to vote. Now, the commission seems to be working to ensure that only one party can participate without difficulty,” he alleged.

He further stated that the Election Commission is obstructing those who wish to engage in the electoral process outside of the dominant party framework. “It appears that if anyone other than a certain party comes forward to contest, the EC creates problems for them.”

In a strong rebuke, the NCP leader likened the commission’s current functioning to an institution stripped of neutrality. “Day by day, we see most of its organs dressed in military uniforms, and the rest in party uniforms,” he said, implying that both authoritarian influence and partisan bias have undermined the commission’s credibility.

Despite his scathing criticism, Patwary noted that his party continues to engage with the EC to “point out their mistakes” and “give them the opportunity to correct them.”

While stopping short of announcing a formal boycott, the NCP warned it may reconsider its participation in the upcoming elections. “If the Election Commission wants to sell its backbone... and deny people their right to vote, then we may be forced to take that decision,” he said.

He concluded by urging the EC to embrace reform and return to its constitutional duty of ensuring free and fair elections. “We are exposing the commission’s failures before the people. Their spinelessness will gradually be revealed to the nation,” Patwary added.