India’s Election Commission (ECI), a key institution in the world's largest democracy, finds its credibility under fire as allegations of electoral fraud intensify. The opposition parties have launched a wave of protests, accusing the commission of manipulating voter rolls and engaging in vote rigging, prompting discussions of potential impeachment for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In response to these claims, which the ECI firmly denies, opposition protests have gained momentum, with Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party spearheading a 1,300-kilometer Voter Rights March in Bihar. This campaign aims to spotlight alleged irregularities in the electoral process, especially surrounding recent revisions of voter lists in the state, which is gearing up for critical elections later this year.
Gandhi’s accusations date back to August when he claimed the ECI colluded with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to orchestrate the 2024 elections. Using data from the ECI’s own records, he alleged that Karnataka’s voter registrations included over 100,000 fraudulent entries, such as duplicates and invalid addresses. The ECI has denounced these claims as 'false and misleading', while BJP leaders assert that the opposition's grievances stem from their anticipation of electoral losses.
The controversy escalated after the ECI undertook a Special Intensive Revision to update the voter rolls for the first time in two decades. However, many opposition leaders posit that this process disenfranchised thousands, particularly migrants, due to its hurried nature and demanding documentation. Following the release of the updated list, significant errors, including mismatched identities and deceased voters, were reported, leading to public outcry.
The opposition has also criticized the lack of transparency in how the ECI published the names of those excluded from the draft rolls, calling for machine-readable lists to facilitate independent verification. In response, the Indian Supreme Court instructed the ECI to provide a more accessible list, highlighting procedural failings and demanding accountability.
In a rare press briefing following myriad criticisms, Gyanesh Kumar defended the ECI’s integrity, challenging opposition leaders to substantiate their claims or retract their statements. This confrontation, however, only fueled further dissent, with critics accusing Kumar of adopting a confrontational stance reminiscent of a ruling party spokesman.
Experts note that while voter roll discrepancies are significant, they do not inherently indicate malfeasance. Former ECI chief N. Gopalaswami emphasized that demographic changes and thorough verifications often lead to fluctuations in voter lists.
As the Bihar elections approach, the opposition's focus on the ECI's practices promises to keep the issue alive. The erosion of trust in the commission, as documented in a recent Lokniti survey, raises alarm bells regarding public confidence. The findings reveal a stark increase in distrust, most notably in Uttar Pradesh, where skepticism towards the ECI has jumped from 11% to 31% since 2019.
This climate of distrust necessitates urgent attention, according to sociologist Sanjay Kumar, who emphasizes the critical need for the ECI to regain not just political trust but also the faith of the electorate in its capability to ensure transparent and fair elections.
