Is Modi Government Wiping Democracy Out of India?

Democracy, as a form of governance has evolved over thousands of years beginning from ancient Greece where only male citizens were allowed to vote. From Monarchies where a king rules like Saudi Arabia, to dictatorship where one person wields full power and control like Hitler's Nazi Germany showed that these model of governance are failure in protecting rights and liberties of common people. Though democracy has its own problems, it remains the best known form of governance till date as citizens from all strata of society have a say over their governments. Studies clearly show that people of democratic countries are wealthier, enjoy more human rights, less corruption, happier and healthier than other forms of governance. Growth of extremism is also difficult in democracy. This reduced the overall volatility of a country leading the country towards progress, slowly but steadily. 

In India, Election commission of India(ECI) was established in 1950 to conduct independent and transparency elections across India for selecting people's representatives. Election Commission of India was designed to be impartial and neutral as they might tend to support one party which might affect the fairness of the election. ECI has three election commissioners who are responsible for conducting free and fair elections across India. Historically, Election commissioner was appointed by a committee consisting of Prime Minister, Chief justice of India and Leader of Opposition. This ensured the neutrality of the commissioner and ensured ruling party doesn't have an upper hand in appointing the election commissioners. Precisely, the electoral system can't function, if the its chief is partial. But, in March 2024, this rule was changed by removing Chief justice of India and adding a Union minister in the committee. This move was seen as giving an unfair upper hand to ruling BJP government. This was seen as against neutrality of Election Commissioner who heads Election Commission of India.

Model Code of Conduct:

During elections, Election commission will have power to act upon the violators. This kept the democracy alive despite many political parties trying to disrupt the elections in their favour. This could range from booth capturing, bribery for votes, etc. This was foreseen and Election Commission implemented Model Code of Conduct(MCC). This ensured any party will have no power to bend the elections in their favour. The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of the result announcement.

During the period of MCC, the government cannot announce any financial grants, promise construction of roads or other facilities, and make any ad hoc appointments in government or public undertaking. The reason behind this was ruling party shouldn't have a undue influence over the voters. Election Commission is responsible for enforcing this.

Example of Election commission's Neutrality:

In 1993, while the Model Code of Conduct was in force, T.N. Seshan was Election Commissioner of India.

Then, Union Minister, Kalpnath Rai proceeded to inaugurate a new Primary Health Centre in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, while the Model Code of Conduct was legally in effect for an upcoming election.

Seshan's Stance: Seshan strictly believed that launching new schemes or announcing benefits by ruling party ministers during the Code period was a clear misuse of official power intended to influence voters.

The Bold Order: For this specific violation, T.N. Seshan issued an order to disqualify Mr. Kalpnath Rai from contesting elections. This was a direct and unprecedented challenge to a sitting Union Minister.

The Outcome:

Kalpnath Rai initially moved the courts to challenge the order. However, the issue created a massive political storm within the Parliament and the ruling party (the Congress government led by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao).

The situation put the Prime Minister in a difficult position. To avoid a full-blown constitutional crisis and to implicitly acknowledge the CEC's power, he had to take action. Consequently, Mr. Kalpnath Rai was compelled to resign from the Council of Ministers. 

This kind of actions by Election commission ensured transparency and encouraged common people to participate in democracy.

Following this pattern, in March 2003 Election commission stopped Jayalalitha government in Tamil Nadu from sending money to farmers under welfare schemes after Model Code of Conduct was implemented. Similarly, free colour TV were distributed to households across Tamil nadu by Government of Tamil nadu from September 2006 for 5 years. But, this was stopped in March 2011 by Election commission before the elections, quoting the Model Code of conduct. Similar, in May 2024, EC barred Andhra Government from disbursing ₹14,000 crores under six welfare scheme quoting MCC.

During Bihar assembly elections, 2025, Model code of Conduct(MCC) was implemented in Bihar from 7th October 2025.

During that period of Bihar election, all women voters of Bihar were given  ₹10,000 under welfare scheme by Modi-Nitish's NDA government to start their own business. This money was transferred to their account directly when the elections were happening. This was a clear violations of MCC. But, Election commission was completely silent despite many opposition leaders raised the issue with the ECI. Women were also promised they will get up to ₹2,00,000 if NDA government is elected back to power. In an economically backward state like Bihar, this is clearly seen as an attempt to influence voter with money which is against the MCC. These things are clear violations of model code of conduct supported by election commission silence. This stand by election commission was stark opposite of what it stood for: Free and Fair elections.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections, 2024:

Maharashtra assembly elections was held in November 2024, 5 months after Lok sabha elections have concluded. During this gap of 5 months nearly 40 lakh new voters were added by Election commission of India(ECI). Opposition claims suspicion as these figure were higher than new voters enrolled in past 5 years of Maharashtra.

On the polling day, at 5 pm, main entrance of the polling station will be closed. But people who came before 5 pm will be given token by the presiding officer and will be allowed to vote. Typically, these things are recorded by CCTV cameras to ensure transparency in the electoral process. In Maharashtra assembly election, voting percentage announced by election commission at 5 pm was 58.22%. But at 11.30 pm, EC announced that voting percentage was 65.02. This was whopping 6.8%. Historically, in India, the difference between these figures vary by less than 1%. This raised eyebrows of activists working towards fair and free elections for enriching democracy.

Meanwhile, Punjab and Haryana High courts have directed Elections commission of India to release the CCTV footage of polling booths to the public as it ensures transparency and to cross verify what happened in booths after 5 pm. This was made mandatory by Conduct of election Rules, 1961 protected by constitution. The rule stated that “all other papers relating to the election shall be open to public inspection." These rules were made in 1961 to ensure transparency in election process to ensure public trust in democracy. But, ECI, after the court order immediately requested Centre to change this rule. This was very suspicious. Why the rule should be changed that ensured transparency in election. Obviously, transparency in election is the backbone of democracy. But, the rule was immediately diluted within days after the High Court order. They changed this rule such that CCTV footage shall be restricted to Public. So, Still we could not verify how the historic surge happened in Maharashtra assembly election, 2024.

Transparency activist say this is a blatant violation of what Election Commission stands for: Free, Fair and Transparent elections.

Meanwhile, India's leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed that more than 25 lakh votes have been stolen in Haryana assembly elections, 2024. This means for every 8 votes in Haryana, one vote is stolen. He showed how voter rolls with invalid address, invalid photos, same voters appearing multiple times were added to electoral rolls. He also claimed many voters were deleted by an centralized operations. He claimed that his party has done a thorough research with the trolley full of electoral rolls to find these discrepancies. And he added it physically impossible to check all physical copies and requested digital electoral rolls from Election commission of India.

And election commission has also de-duplication software. But, it stopped using this suspiciously. The issue could have been easily clarified by ECI by providing digital electoral rolls. This would have increased election commission trust among the public. But, Election commission denied to give digital electoral rolls. Opposition asked for at least machine readable voter rolls. But, Election commission even denied this. Instead of providing digital electoral rolls and becoming clean and more transparent before public, Election commission gaslit opposition and denied any wrongdoings. Activist and Supreme court lawyer, Prasanth Bhushan asks, "If election commission deny any wrongdoings, why can't it release digital electoral rolls and come clean before public?" Yet, election commission started a blame game and denied any data for proving its transparency. This was seen as a major dent on the electoral transparency and democracy of India. Rahul Gandhi also claimed that EC, not providing digital electoral rolls proves his allegations against Election Commissioner.

All these things done by Election Commission of India are against the law and are punishable under India's court of law and constitution. Election commission was entrusted to conduct free and fair elections. Failing to do so will lead Election commissioner to jail. So, Modi Government recently changed the law to give immunity to Election commissioners against legal and criminal proceedings even if they do criminal things against country and its citizens making them legally immune from courts.

Only a people movement can now question the authority now as all democratic process has been hijacked. All the evidence has been presented above. Share this story within all your circles. It took thousands of years of civilization to develop a democracy. We, the people of India should not allow it to be destroyed in the hands of few undemocratic forces.

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