BJP’s allegation begins from T N Seshan as Election Commissioner and Congress’s allegation ends on current Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar – covering the entire period or rise and fall of the Election Commission of India since 1991 to 2025. T N Session was appointed the 10th Chief Election Commissioner and served from 12 December 1990 to 11 December 1996, a period which was known as the rise of the Election Commission. The current Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was appointed on 19 February 2025, who is presiding over the fall of the Election Commission of India.

What the Leader of the Opposition the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged about the ECI on September 18 and 19, and how the ECI replied to the allegation, clearly marked the decline of the autonomous status of ECI as a democratic institution, which seems not to be interested in probing the allegations but in refuting the allegation and criticizing Rahul Gandhi.

BJP on the other hand has said that Rahul Gandhi’s allegations were jokes, and it was Congress which misused ECI. BJP leader Anurag Thakur said, “Congress misused EC. It is only now that EC has been functioning impartially and this is why Rahul repeatedly tries to weaken Indian democracy and mislead people, seeking to create situations like those in Bangladesh and Nepal.”

Defending the poll panel, Thakur cited EC’s past associations with Congress, including former CECs MS Gill, who became a UPA minister, and TN Seshan, who contested LS polls on a Congress ticket. He also said how UPA government’s appointment of Navin Chawla as CEC in 2009, despite objections from outgoing CEC N Gopalaswami, who accused Chawla of leaking sensitive information. He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi has been engaged in drama and “hit-and-run” politics because he does not have acts. He questioned, “If his arguments have substance, why not got to court. He and Congress have no faith in democracy or constitutional institutions.” Rahul is no even filing an affidavit as requested by the EC, he added.

As for review of electoral roll, especially Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and elsewhere, Thakur alleged that Rahul’s sole agenda is “infiltrators first politics”. He said that Rahul speaks of protecting SCs, STs, and OBCs but he is opposing SIR. His opposition is harming their interest.

BJP’s IT head Amit Malviya said, “What a steep fall of the LoP, who openly declared it’s not his responsibility to defend India’s democracy. Shameful.” But he leaves and important question unanswered, should defending electoral malpractices in favour of BJP be amount to defending democracy? BJP is campaigning on the line that Rahul’s tirade against ECI is delegitimizing India’s democracy.

Now let us consider Rahul Gandhi’s point. He reiterated on September 19, 2025, his “vote theft” allegation which he had made yesterday in a press conference. He said that the “election watchman” (ECI) “stayed awake, watched the theft, and protected the thieves”. He had alleged yesterday that CEC Gyanesh Kumar protected those who “destroyed democracy”.

Yesterday, the ECI had dubbed the allegations “incorrect and baseless”. Rahul has said yesterday, “The nation’s youth, the nation’s students, the nation’s Gen Z, will defend the Constitution, protect democracy, and spot vote theft.” He had also said that the poll panel must stop protecting “vote thieves”.

He cited details how the votes were deleted and added fraudulently in several states, event through automated software. “Same system is doing this. It is doing it in Karnataka, Maharashtra, it has done it in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and we have proof of it.”

It should be recalled that Rahul Gandhi had alleged even earlier that ECI has been conspiring with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP in their favour in large scale voter list manipulation through addition and deletion of voters from the Electoral Rolls.

Rahul Gandhi’s chief allegation include – Mass deletion of voters’ names; Use of software and centralized manipulation; Fake, duplicate or invalid entries added; Collusion and Protection by CEC and ECI; Lack of transparency and data suppression; Targeted deletion of votes from specific communities; Irregularities in turnout data and polling behaviour; and violation of process and legal norms.

ECI has issued rebuttal to the allegation by saying them incorrect and baseless. It has also threatened Rahul Gandhi to provide affidavit under oath with details evidence or else apologise. In some cases, ECI has said that they have filed even FIRs. Nevertheless, it remains a mystery why ECI is yet to initiate a probe into the allegations. ECI is merely busy in defending itself.

One thing is clear that both the ruling BJP establishment and the opposition Congress have one thing in common. Both alleged each other that they misused ECI as a tool. Then where does ECI stand? Should it fight with both the opposition and the ruling establishment, or it should look into every allegation in impartial manner? Should the people of India turn blind eye to the malpractices of the ECI out of fear of hurting the Indian democracy? Cleaning of the functioning of the ECI must be allowed to save India’s electoral democracy. (IPA Service)