How Election Commission of India Fumbled a Democratic Necessity

A novel, desirable exercise that, ideally, would have strengthened the democratic process, increased trust in the Election Commission of India, and made it appear more robust in the eyes of both voters and those who seek their votes, has become controversial—due to what appears to be a lack of foresight and uncalled-for urgency by the body administered by retired bureaucrats.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

These same bureaucrats are selected to lead this body because they are expected to understand the ground realities, the problems faced by the people, and the difficulties that arise in implementing policies on the ground.

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is the latest example of how most of the babudom in India continues to move—with force, without caring for the impact on the ground, mostly erratic, and without nuance—like a wild elephant drunk on mahua, the local drink popular in the Eastern states of India.