Elections 2026

A Discomfort I Cannot Shake Off Anymore

I look at our election process today and I feel a growing opacity. The functioning of the Election Commission of India under the current leadership raises questions that cannot be brushed aside. As a citizen, I do have doubts about the fairness and integrity of how elections are being conducted.

And yet, I draw a line.

I refuse to casually dismiss every electoral outcome as manipulation. Not because misuse of power does not exist. Not because allegations of pressure, selective enforcement, or institutional bias are imaginary. But because I value democracy too deeply to weaken it through such conclusions. 

So what next?

One understands the frustration of opposition parties when they face what they see as selective compliance, uneven application of rules, and the use of power that appears unfair. I am not suggesting that they should not raise these issues before the people. Campaigns like “vote chori” reflect a genuine grievance.

But is only blaming a solution? Has it led to any structural correction so far?

A real answer lies elsewhere. 

We had a basketball coach in school, I remember. He would always advise us to focus on scoring more baskets when we faced a biased referee. Because the best way to handle unfair judging was to score more. When you keep scoring, the referee starts looking weak and irrelevant.

That is the principle.

A mass people’s movement. Absolute, unwavering, and unquestionable support from the people. No system, no authority, no agency, no pressure can override that kind of mandate. Work towards a people’s mandate. Work towards a vote tsunami in 2029. That will fetch a success no system can take away. And it will strengthen our democracy. 

Democracy is not defeated by a flawed system, it is defeated when people stop believing they can defeat it.

In the end, no referee matters if you keep scoring. 

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.

Related posts