I have given a headline that is very ordinary, because I cannot give a headline that is smoky, not because I cannot, because this issue or issues surrounding the Election Commission is not about some breaking news or one or two investigative reports, but about the future of free and fair elections in our country. The conduct of the current panel of Election Commission of India (ECI) is best known to the election commissioners concerned, rest all are our assumptions. My concern is not myopic. My concern is about the image of ECI that is reflected in the world currently. What would an American reading news about ECI\u2019s conduct reflect upon India\u2019s democracy?<\/p>\n
We need to reflect upon this as a democracy. It is not about the BJP vs Opposition issue, or whether NDA allies are with or against BJP in this issue. In a democracy, issue-based support or issue based criticism is a norm, and should be. It should not be made a headline. But, what literally is a headline is that ECI was devoid of any meetings for almost four months or that dissent of fellow commissioners were not taken on record. As a lawyer, I am concerned. These need to be taken seriously considering their merit and evidence.<\/p>\n
There are countries in the world with one-party dispensations like China, Cuba, Eritrea or monarchy based models like Saudi Arabia, UAE and some others, but India is not one of them. We are the world’s largest democracy. I was talking to someone from Greece and I mentioned that they may be the mother of modern democracy but India(Bharat) has evolved the model of democracy from its ancient roots and also grassroots.<\/p>\n
As a democracy, we have worked on many issues, including \u2018vote for all\u2019 initiatives. I remember a Bollywood film Newton (2017) , in which the storyline follows an idealistic government clerk sent to conduct fair elections in a conflict-ridden jungle of Chhattisgarh. Despite apathy from security forces and fear among local villagers, Newton Kumar remains steadfast in protecting the democratic process.The film brilliantly highlights that the right to vote is not merely a bureaucratic ritual, but the cornerstone of human dignity and equality. Every single ballot gives marginalized citizens a voice, holding power accountable and proving that in a true democracy, every vote carries equal weight regardless of circumstance.<\/p>\n
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. When we say, \u2018autonomous\u2019, why does the ruling dispensation need to over exaggerate the independence of ECI or comment beyond necessary. It has significantly answered more than asked.<\/p>\n
The credibility of an institution like the Election Commission does not rest merely on its constitutional mandate under Article 324, but on the public perception of its unyielding neutrality. Caesar\u2019s wife must be above suspicion, and an umpire cannot afford even the perception of a delayed whistle. If India aspires to be a Viksit Bharat by 2047, developed status cannot solely be measured by GDP metrics, digital infrastructure, or geopolitical standing. A truly developed republic requires institutions of integrity that act as robust guardrails against majoritarian convenience.<\/p>\n
Independence cannot be an act of executive benevolence. While the legislative framework governing the appointment of Election Commissioners has undergone contentious shifts, the spirit of constitutional checks and balances demands an appointment mechanism that commands absolute consensus across the aisle – one where the Opposition’s voice is genuinely co-equal. Furthermore, extending the constitutional protection of removal (impeachment akin to a Supreme Court judge) to Election Commissioners alongside the Chief Election Commissioner will ensure structural insulation from political pressures.<\/p>\n
Criticism of the Election Commission must never be misconstrued as cynicism toward Indian democracy. It is, in fact, an act of constitutional patriotism. India\u2019s electoral machinery is a logistical wonder – conducting elections across snowbound peaks, deep forests, and islands with a scale unmatched in human history. That ground-level dedication of millions of polling officers must not be shadowed by institutional hesitation at the apex.
\nA developed Bharat cannot afford an insecure democracy. By strengthening its internal processes, welcoming transparency, and anchoring its decisions purely in constitutional ethics, the Election Commission can reaffirm its role not just as an administrator of ballots, but as the fearless custodian of the republic\u2019s conscience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have given a headline that is very ordinary, because I cannot give a headline that is smoky, not because I cannot, because this issue or issues surrounding the Election Commission is not about some breaking news or one or two investigative reports, but about the future of free and fair elections in our country. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":291624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,4,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-291623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-131","category-4","category-3"],"yoast_head":"\n