India’s status as the world’s largest democracy is under growing scrutiny amid allegations of widespread election rigging. Indian Prime Minister Modi’s BJP faces serious claims of fraud, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi exposing major irregularities, especially in Bihar where thousands of bogus votes were allegedly cast under single households.
Despite these revelations, the Election Commission of India remains silent and refuses to release key digital voter data. With the judiciary, media and armed forces also failing to hold the government accountable, citizens are left questioning where to turn for justice.
Consistently, early vote counts show opposition parties leading, only for results to inexplicably swing in favor of the BJP by midday. Coupled with hundreds of thousands of suspicious voter registrations, this points to a highly coordinated system designed to quietly but decisively alter election outcomes. Central to these claims is the vulnerability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), allegedly susceptible to manipulation through hidden chip swaps and software tweaks, with barely any voter-verifiable audit trails.
Despite these grave allegations, the Election Commission refuses transparency or independent audits and courts have remained disturbingly silent. Is the Election Commission of India an impartial arbiter or a political tool? Why has the judiciary hesitated to protect constitutional rights? And why has the media opted for silence?
Facing declining popularity, Modi’s administration sought to rally support by stoking nationalism through aggressive rhetoric and military posturing toward Pakistan. Claims of downing Pakistani aircraft were timed to boost national pride before elections but were later contradicted by India’s own military and international observers. The chief of defence staff’s cautious remarks and conflicting air force accounts clashed with government claims, while Pakistan’s transparency exposed operational flaws. These events revealed not only strategic weaknesses but also a deliberate attempt to distract from domestic challenges and mounting election-related controversies.
Meanwhile, Hindu nationalism continues to shape Indian politics, stifling dissent and bolstering ruling party dominance. Economic elites aligned with political power, coupled with election manipulation and institutional silence, have eroded democratic checks and balances. Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi raise critical questions: why are voter rolls inflated? Why do vote counts shift without explanation? And yet answers remain elusive. Unless these concerns are addressed, India risks becoming a democracy in form only, with elections serving as mere theatre. The country’s democratic image is increasingly at odds with its internal political realities.
Internationally, India’s strategic posture also reflects its internal contradictions. Washington’s growing impatience with New Delhi is evident as US policymakers perceive India’s foreign policy as hedging between global powers without firm commitments. US President Trump’s role in mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire and concerns over India’s import of Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict illustrate shifting US perceptions.
The narrative of India as America’s steadfast ally is giving way to scepticism over its strategic reliability. Meanwhile, Modi’s government grapples with domestic controversies that overshadow its international ambitions, struggling to reconcile nationalist rhetoric with governance challenges. This situation raises an important question: Can India’s democratic institutions and foreign policy maintain legitimacy while its electoral integrity is under threat? The answer will have profound consequences for regional and global stability.
Rahul Gandhi’s revelations are not merely political attacks but urgent warnings that demand serious reflection and reform. When electoral integrity is compromised, democracy ceases to represent the people and instead serves those who control the levers of power. Most importantly, the Indian public deserves transparency, justice and genuine democratic choice.
The writer is a freelance contributor and writes on issues concerning national and regional security.
She can be reached at: omayaimen333gmail.com