124 Former Officials Support Election Commission in Open Letter

In a significant show of support, 124 former officials from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) have issued an open letter defending the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This letter comes in response to ongoing allegations of vote-rigging, which the officials claim lack credible evidence. They assert that India's electoral landscape has drastically improved, moving away from past practices of booth capturing and electoral violence, and now includes multiple layers of checks and safeguards designed to ensure fair elections.

The letter points to the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 as a case in point, noting that the state recorded no instances of re-polling and achieved the highest voter turnout since 1951. The former officials argue that a system cannot be deemed corrupt when it benefits one party and then labeled as rigged when it does not. They highlight that under the current ECI, the ruling party has faced losses in several state elections and even lost its parliamentary majority in 2024, suggesting that the system's integrity is intact.

The officials further defended the independence of the Election Commission, emphasizing its multi-member structure and institutional safeguards that protect its autonomy. They stated, "Questioning is every citizen's right. Proving is the accuser's duty," reinforcing the notion that while citizens can challenge the system, it is incumbent upon them to substantiate their claims.

Regarding the SIR, the letter underscores its critical role in cleaning up the electoral rolls. The officials noted that this initiative has led to the identification of approximately 22 lakh deceased voters and 7 lakh duplicate entries in Bihar, while also facilitating the addition of around 21.5 lakh new voters. They argue that maintaining an unclean electoral roll does not serve the interests of voters but rather protects those who seek to commit fraud.

The former officials also highlighted the safeguards embedded in the SIR process, which include notices, hearings, appeals, and the involvement of political parties' booth-level agents. They pointed out that the Supreme Court has reviewed the SIR, mandated additional safeguards, and confirmed the Election Commission's authority to conduct this exercise. In closing, they challenged those who question the election results, stating, "If the system you call rigged is the same one that handed you your victories, ask yourself whether it is the system you doubt, or only the result."