India's Election Commission (ECI), a historically respected institution in the nation’s democratic framework, is battling a credibility crisis. Recent weeks have seen a flurry of serious allegations from opposition factions, which accuse the commission of voter fraud, electoral manipulation, and inconsistencies in the updated electoral rolls. All accusations have been firmly denied by the ECI.
Facing widespread protests, opposition leaders are contemplating an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. As of late Thursday, the motion had not been filed, and the opposition appears lacking the requisite parliamentary support to take such a step.
In a dramatic response, Rahul Gandhi, head of the Congress party, has initiated a 16-day march through Bihar, dubbed the Voter Adhikar Yatra (Voter Rights March), aimed at highlighting grievances against the ECI. This mobilization comes at a critical juncture as Bihar prepares for important state elections later this year, amidst ongoing disputes over significant changes to electoral rolls.
Gandhi had accused the ECI in August of collusion with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate the upcoming 2024 general elections, citing data indicating the presence of over 100,000 fraudulent voters in a constituency in Karnataka. The commission has categorically dismissed these allegations as unfounded and misleading, with BJP spokesman Anurag Thakur asserting that the claims reflect the opposition's anticipations of electoral defeat in Bihar.
The concerns escalated after the ECI conducted a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls between June and July, which purportedly involved verification processes for all 78.9 million voters in Bihar. However, opposition leaders suggest the rapidity of the process, alongside demanding documentation requirements, may have disenfranchised numerous voters, particularly migrants.
Following the publication of a new draft voter list on August 1, multiple reports uncovered discrepancies, including misallocation of gender and photographs and a notable rise in deceased individuals on the rolls. The latest draft, now consisting of 72.4 million names, reflects a decrease of 6.5 million registrants compared to the previous list. The ECI argued that the omissions stemmed from incorrect entries such as duplicates and deceased individuals.
Criticism has also been directed at the commission's method of revealing names excluded from the draft rolls. Opposition parties have questioned the lack of machine-readable lists, which would allow for independent validation. Responding to the increasing scrutiny, India's Supreme Court compelled the ECI to release a searchable voter list alongside explanations for the exclusions, highlighting procedural shortcomings in the commission's operations.
Faced with mounting allegations, Gyanesh Kumar addressed the media on August 17, asserting that inflammatory language surrounding “vote theft” serves to insult India’s constitutional integrity. He emphasized the necessity for Gandhi to provide an affidavit supporting his claims or retract his statements, which only intensified the controversy with political adversaries accusing the ECI of politicizing its response.
Experts offered mixed evaluations regarding the gravity of the allegations against the ECI. Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami commented that while Gandhi's claims require thorough scrutiny, changes in voter lists frequently result from rigorous verification processes. Observations indicate the ongoing debate will persist, particularly with the Bihar elections approaching.
Meanwhile, the ECI's credibility is facing unprecedented challenges, according to SY Quraishi, another former chief election commissioner, who stressed the importance of public perception in maintaining trust. Data from recent surveys indicates a sharp decline in the public’s confidence in the ECI, revealing that from 2019 to 2025, distrust in some regions, including Uttar Pradesh, soared from 11% to 31%.
The ramifications for the ECI could prove significant as public confidence dwindles. As stated by Lokniti’s chief, Sanjay Kumar, the trust deficit reflects broader electoral integrity concerns beyond just opposition discontent. The upcoming elections will likely see the opposition leverage the ongoing controversies to challenge the current administration and further scrutinize the independence and functionality of the ECI.
