DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL

From Rahul Gandhi's allegations on vote theft to ground reports from Bihar, it appears difficult to escape the thought that there is something very rotten in the state of Denmark

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The response of the Election | Commission of India to Rahul Gandhi's detailed, well researched presentation raising specific concerns that go to the very heart of the working of India’s elections system is shocking to say the least.

The ECI working under three worthy commissioners has no reason to turn this into a slanging match with the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). The ludicrous demand put up by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka and two other states that Gandhi should sign off the charges under oath or apologise to the nation only indicates the unease within the ECI in the face of what to the common eye are credible questions and valid concerns on the integrity of the poll process. Ideally, it should be in the interest of the ECI to set up a task force and get to the bottom of this in a timely manner that satisfies all parties and lays all doubts to rest or results in corrective action.

After all, what is in doubt is not just the outcome of one seat with fake voters, but the very future of Indian democracy. Every Indian irrespective of political colour or party of preference would agree that at the heart of India’s constitutional democracy is a national commitment to conducting elections that are regular, free and fair. These are also the words headlined on the ECI website under its link titled “election management”.