New Delhi is witnessing protests by INDIA alliance parties and student groups against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Amid the heightened political atmosphere, 124 retired IAS and IPS officers have come out in support of the CEC through a letter addressed to citizens. They said they are not affiliated to any political party and warned that repeated allegations against the election process without evidence could erode public trust in democratic institutions.
Recalling their experience from earlier decades, the signatories said they have seen what flawed elections look like, including booth capturing and bogus voting, which they described as common in the 1990s.
They argued that election administration has improved, pointing to the 2025 Bihar polls being conducted peacefully. The letter cited the absence of re-polls, high voter turnout since 1951, and increased participation of women candidates as indicators of progress.
The retired officers also said the current Election Commission system is secure and not easily misused. They added that parties protesting now had earlier won under the same system, and claimed such agitations are being pursued to retain influence among the public after electoral setbacks.
