Tune in wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/582585399/episode/246f6926916fac5bb1bc66c99f0f6bc5 This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande are joined by ex-Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi, and academic Professor R Manivannan. Dr Quraishi says that ensuring a level-playing field is the Election Commission’s “dharma”. He says it is necessary for conducting free and fair elections which are “a basic structure of the Constitution”. He adds that the EC follows the principle of “what can wait must wait”, and asks whether the arrest of opposition leaders could have waited. On the Katchatheevu island issue, Prof. Manivannan says the island was historically “within the revenue region of the king of Ramanathapuram”, adding that by 1976, the fishing rights of Tamil fishermen had been taken away in the region. “What happens to the population that relies on fishing in the region?” he asks. This and a lot more. Tune in! Subscribe to Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=hafta Power NL and TNM's coverage of the 2024 general elections: https://www.newslaundry.com/2024-electionfund?ref=nl-social Download the all-new Newslaundry app: https://www.newslaundry.com/download-app Join us on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va61PEo0QeacOqU9vr2k 0:00 - 2:35 Introductions 2:36 - 10:50 Headlines 10:51 - 17:24 Workings and discourses around VVPATs explained 17:25 - 19:56 Removal of the CJI from the panel selecting Election Commissioners 19:57 - 25:26 Extension of phase elections and its impact 25:27 - 38:02 Arrest of Opposition leaders and the necessity of level playing field 38:03 - 40:57 What role does money play in politics? 40:48 - 44:46 What is the Katchatheevu issue? 44:47 - 46:44 How the Katchatheevu issue was orchestrated to set the stage for BJP campaigns in Tamil Nadu 46:45 - 49:11 Election Commission and the transparency of funds 49:12 - 53:16 Cost benefit analysis of getting hold of the maritime resources in return for ceding an island 53:17 - 59:00 India’s foreign policy and territorial borders 59:01 - 1:01:21 Has India culturally invaded others? 1:01:22 - 1:02:25 Prof Manivannan’s recommendations 1:02:26 - 1:04:16 Contribute to NL Sena projects! 1:04:17 - 1:08:42 How does the Election Commission handle the world's largest election? 1:08:43 - 1:14:14 Favourite election stories 1:14:15 - 1:17:59 Should the Election Commission be using punitive action? 1:18:00 - 1:51:57 Podcast Letters Follow and engage with us on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/newslaundry Twitter: https://twitter.com/newslaundry Instagram: https://instagram.com/newslaundry