draping-political-frustration-letter-to-rahul-over-ec-criticis

More than 200 distinguished retired public servants—including judges, bureaucrats, former Army officers, and diplomats—have issued a strongly worded open letter condemning the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for what they describe as reckless and unsubstantiated attacks on the Election Commission of India (ECI) as part of the party’s “vote chori” campaign.

 

The letter, signed by 272 eminent citizens, accuses the Congress of attempting “to drape political frustration in the garb of institutional crisis” through a sustained campaign of vilification against one of India’s most critical constitutional bodies.

Among the signatories are 16 retired judges, 123 former bureaucrats, 133 retired Army officers, and 14 former ambassadors.

 

 

The full text of the open letter reads as follows: “We, the senior citizens of civil society, express our grave concern that India’s democracy is under assault, not by force, but by a rising tide of venomous rhetoric directed toward its foundational institutions. Some political leaders, instead of offering genuine policy alternatives, resort to provocative but unsubstantiated accusations in their theatrical political strategy.

After their attempts to tarnish the Indian Armed Forces by questioning their valour and accomplishments, and the Judiciary by questioning its fairness, Parliament, and its constitutional functionaries, now it is the turn of the Election Commission of India to face systematic and conspiratorial attacks on its integrity and reputation.”

The signatories point out that the Congress has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of colluding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to enable large-scale vote fraud—an allegation that has been categorically rejected by both the BJP and the Election Commission itself.

 

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The letter singles out Rahul Gandhi for particular criticism, noting that he has repeatedly attacked the Election Commission and publicly claimed to possess proof of vote theft by the poll body. It describes Gandhi’s reference to an “atom bomb” of evidence as “unbelievably uncouth rhetoric.”

“Yet, despite such scathing accusations, there has been no formal complaint filed by him, along with the prescribed sworn affidavit, to escape his accountability for levelling unsubstantiated allegations and threatening public servants in performance of their duty,” the letter states.

It further notes that several senior Congress leaders, leaders of other opposition parties, leftist NGOs, ideologically driven scholars, and certain publicity-seeking individuals have joined the chorus, even branding the Election Commission as the “B-team of the BJP” and claiming it has “descended into complete shamelessness.”

“Such fiery rhetoric may be emotionally powerful—but it collapses under scrutiny,” the signatories write, pointing out that the ECI has publicly shared its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) methodology, allowed court-supervised verification, removed ineligible names in a transparent and compliant manner, and added new eligible voters. “This suggests that these accusations are an attempt to drape political frustration in the garb of institutional crisis.”

 

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The letter characterises the Congress leadership’s conduct as reflecting “‘impotent rage’—deep anger born of repeated electoral failure and frustration, without a concrete plan to reconnect with the people.”

“When political leaders lose touch with the aspirations of ordinary citizens, they lash out at institutions instead of rebuilding their credibility. Theatrics replace analysis. Public spectacle takes the place of public service. The irony is stark: when electoral outcomes are favourable in certain states where opposition-driven political parties form governments, criticism of the Election Commission disappears. When they are unfavourable in certain states, the commission becomes the villain in every narrative. This selective outrage exposes opportunism, not conviction. It is a convenient deflection: to give the impression that loss is not a result of strategy but conspiracy.”

Recalling the tenures of former Chief Election Commissioners T.N. Seshan and N. Gopalaswami, the letter praises their uncompromising leadership that transformed the Election Commission into “a formidable constitutional sentinel.” “They did not court popularity. They did not chase headlines. They enforced the rules—fearlessly, impartially, relentlessly. Under them, the Commission gained moral and institutional teeth. It became a guardian, not a bystander.”

 

Also Read: ‘Vote theft’ claim benefits NDA more than Congress

The signatories urge civil society to rally behind the Election Commission: “Now is the time for civil society and the citizens of India to stand firmly with the Election Commission, not out of flattery, but out of conviction. The society should demand that political actors stop undermining this vital institution with baseless allegations and theatrical denunciations. Instead, they should offer the public serious policy alternatives, meaningful reform ideas, and a national vision rooted in reality.”

The letter also draws attention to global practices, noting that countries worldwide have taken a resolute stance against illegal immigration to protect electoral integrity. “If other nations guard the electoral integrity of their states so resolutely, India must be equally proactive. The sanctity of our electoral rolls is not a partisan issue—it is a national imperative.”

In its concluding appeal, the open letter states, “We call upon the Election Commission to continue its path of transparency and rigour. Publish complete data, defend itself through legal channels when necessary, and reject politics dressed up as victimhood. We call upon political leaders to respect the constitutional process, to compete not through baseless accusation but through policy articulation, and to accept democratic verdicts with grace.”

 

Also Read: Cong raises 'Vote Chori' pitch again, to fight SIR battle legally