Rahul Gandhi’s recent press conferences have articulated the issue of ‘Vote Chori’ (vote theft) with striking clarity. Unfortunately, most opposition leaders and his colleagues have yet to fully embrace this narrative. They have not been as forthright and courageous as the public demands. The rot is not merely confined to the Election Commission of India (ECI); it has spread to all institutions responsible for upholding the Constitution. The political executive is shielding these compromised bodies, while modern technology is being weaponized to subvert the people's mandate.
India is at a critical juncture. If this trajectory is not checked, the entire democratic process risks being subverted by the push of a button on a software system in Delhi. The case of Goa is a glaring example, but the grim reality is that millions of voters have been effectively disenfranchised. Neither the Supreme Court nor the government has offered any substantive explanation, choosing instead to hide behind empty rhetoric.
However, merely removing the current Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, is not the answer. His predecessors, including Rajeev Kumar, operated under similar constraints. Those familiar with the functioning of the current regime know exactly how it handpicks individuals who are completely loyal to it. Caste dynamics (jatis) also play a crucial role; a closer look at the caste backgrounds of many of these officers reveals how they are being selectively utilized to serve partisan interests.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s press conferences have become increasingly informative and educational, setting a benchmark that his contemporaries struggle to match. The public eagerly anticipates these addresses. When he speaks, the auditoriums are packed with journalists and social media influencers, reflecting a deep public hunger for unvarnished truth.
Opposition parties must join hands to challenge this both legally and in the public sphere. Technically, the election results in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and West Bengal need to be revisited. If a majority of voters are effectively deleted from the rolls, what is left of the mandate? The time has come to look beyond just the functioning of the ECI; accountability must be fixed across all institutions, including the bureaucracy, the media, and the Supreme Court. Furthermore, while mounting pressure might lead to Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, there is no guarantee his successor won't act the same way. The systemic issues remain unaddressed: Why are VVPAT slips not being counted? Why are they not being kept safe? Why was CCTV footage conveniently destroyed within 45 days?
This is a definitive wake-up call. Rahul Gandhi has articulated the crisis well, but how he and the Congress party translate this into a sustained battle remains the moot question. All opposition parties, as well as ordinary citizens, must speak out against what amounts to the criminal subversion of the electoral process. India's democracy is at serious risk of falling under the monopolistic control of a caste oligarchy.
The Supreme Court and other constitutional institutions need to act and listen to the public. They cannot remain deaf to the massive groundswell of uproar. If they intervene decisively, the people will remember them as the true protectors of their rights and democracy. Justices H.R. Khanna and Krishna Iyer became legends despite never reaching the post of Chief Justice of India; they are remembered far more fondly than many who did, simply because of their forthright stand in protecting the Constitution.
Today, responsible individuals must rise to the occasion. The question is: will they show the strength of their conviction?
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*Human rights defender
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