Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s blunt reminder to political parties to desist from maligning the Election Commission should not be brushed aside as routine. It carries the weight of both law and precedent. At the heart of his remarks lies not just a plea for restraint but a veiled warning that the constitutional body will no longer tolerate motivated campaigns designed to erode public faith in the democratic process.
The primary culprit here is none other than Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who, despite repeated clarifications by the Election Commission (EC), continues to peddle the tired rhetoric of “vote chori.” His speeches, amplified by his Opposition allies, have reduced political discourse to reckless mudslinging. Worse, these falsehoods are being peddled even after the Supreme Court itself upheld the EC’s conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Let us be clear: this is not about legitimate criticism. The Constitution protects free speech, but it does not sanction malicious propaganda aimed at undermining independent institutions. The Representation of the People Act, 1951, specifically envisages penalties for making false statements in connection with elections. Section 171G of the Indian Penal Code also makes publishing false statements with intent to affect the outcome of an election a punishable offence. By repeatedly accusing the EC of mass voter deletions and fraud without evidence—or worse, by refusing to file affidavits when invited to do so—Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues are skirting dangerously close to conduct that could attract disqualification.
The CEC, in his Sunday press conference, laid out the facts with refreshing clarity. The SIR process is neither arbitrary nor opaque. Every recognized political party has been involved. Booth-level officers and party agents are working together. Over one crore officials are engaged in the mammoth exercise, making “vote theft” a laughable claim. And if any voter feels wronged, the EC’s doors remain open for redressal.
What, then, explains the Opposition’s shrill campaign? The answer lies in politics, not principle. As Gyanesh Kumar himself observed, some parties appear to be “firing from the Commission’s shoulder,” hoping to delegitimize an electoral defeat in advance. This is not the first time the Congress has chosen confrontation over accountability. Having failed to convince the judiciary, Rahul Gandhi and his allies have resorted to street theatre, amplifying myths of voter suppression in Bihar and elsewhere. But empty sloganeering cannot substitute for hard evidence. The EC has even invited Opposition parties to submit formal affidavits supporting their allegations. Unsurprisingly, not one leader has dared to sign on the dotted line.
The danger in allowing such reckless allegations to pass unchecked is immense. Democracy functions on trust—trust that elections are free and fair, trust that institutions are impartial. When the Leader of the Opposition brands the EC as complicit in fraud, he does not merely attack an institution; he corrodes the very faith that keeps the electoral system functioning. For this reason, the Commission cannot afford to appear weak or indulgent.
Some argue that strong punitive action—whether prosecution for false statements or even recommending disqualification of repeat offenders—may hand the Opposition a sympathy card. Perhaps. But institutions are not in the business of playing politics; their mandate is to uphold the law and protect the Constitution. Former CEC T.N. Seshan restored the Commission’s credibility by wielding the stick when persuasion failed. Gyanesh Kumar may well be walking the same path.
The time has come to test the Opposition’s bluff. If Rahul Gandhi truly believes in his “vote chori” conspiracy, let him submit an affidavit and face the legal consequences of perjury if his claims collapse. If he refuses, the Commission must consider initiating action under the penal provisions at its disposal. Anything less will embolden those who thrive on manufactured chaos.
The CEC has made its position clear: misinformation will no longer be tolerated. Now it is time for him to act. Democracy deserves nothing less.
