Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday criticised Congress over its record with former Chief Election Commissioners (CECs), accusing the party of offering political positions to election officials after their tenure.

“Congress raises questions about the Election Commission while ignoring its own track record. If you look at Rahul Gandhi's (Congress') track record: they gave a party ticket to one Election Commissioner, made another a Minister, and appointed two as Governors,” Goyal said at a press conference.

Goyal cited former CEC TN Seshan, who served from 1990 to 1996, as an example. Congress fielded Seshan against veteran BJP leader LK Advani from Gandhinagar in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections. Seshan lost the contest.

“They fielded TN Seshan against LK Advani,” Goyal said.

Goyal also referred to MS Gill, who served as CEC from 1996. He said Gill received the Padma Vibhushan while holding the constitutional post and later became a Union Minister in the Congress government.

“MS Gill, a sitting CEC, was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. This was done to reward his sycophancy. He later joined the Congress party and was made a Union Minister,” Goyal said.

“RK Dwivedi was made a Governor within two months of his retirement. Naveen Chawla was made CEC by Sonia Gandhi, even when she was not in the government,” he added.

Dwivedi served as CEC from 1982 and became the Governor of Gujarat in 1986. Goyal also questioned the appointment of Naveen Chawla as CEC despite a recommendation for his removal.

“Gopalaswami recommended that Naveen Chawla be removed, but instead, Naveen Chawla was made the CEC. Ratna U Kelkar was the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala. Immediately after the elections, the Chief Minister appointed him as his Chief Advisor,” Goyal said.

The remarks come amid mounting pressure on the BJP-led government, with Congress and other opposition parties demanding the removal of incumbent CEC Gyanesh Kumar. They have also raised allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

On Monday, INDIA bloc leaders and supporters, led by Rahul Gandhi, marched along Barakhamba Road towards the Supreme Court. Subsequently, 11 opposition leaders filed a petition challenging the Election Commission's decisions related to the SIR exercise.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Registry flagged 14 defects in the writ petition filed by Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and nine other INDIA bloc leaders against aspects of the ongoing revision drive.