On Saturday in Kozhikode, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described reports of discord within the Election Commission of India as a “catastrophic assault on democracy” and called on all citizens, including BJP members, to oppose it.
The ECI released a statement after its meeting to address rumors of internal disagreement and clarify that a letter to the Cabinet Secretary had been written by its officials. Tharoor accused the commission of denying many voters their right to vote by allegedly modifying Form 6 to request data not previously required, a change he said was made without the consent of two of the three commissioners, violating commission procedures.
He also highlighted problems with the ECINet software, which reportedly blocked access for Electoral Registration Officers and led to cases such as in Goa where 97 voters were denied the right to vote, affecting their eligibility for dialysis and other medical assistance. Tharoor said the software was untested and not logically grounded, undermining the integrity of elections.
Tharoor urged political parties to unite against the perceived challenge, noting that the Congress will hold a Working Committee meeting on September 29 and that he would travel to Delhi. He called on BJP leaders to join the opposition in defending democracy, stressing that the nation’s democratic future depends on collective action.
