New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday acknowledged the “executive veto” in appointments of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners, scoffing at the “show of independence” in making the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha the third member in the committee chaired by the Prime Minister, and with a Union minister as the other member. This effectively gives control to the executive over appointments with a 2:1 majority. The court was hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the CEC and EC (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The petitioners claimed that the law threatens the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) by allowing the government to appoint their “yes man”.