NEW DELHI — More than 250 women activists, organisations and citizens from across the country on Saturday issued a joint statement expressing concern over what they described a “dangerous, systematic erosion” of free and fair elections in India.
The statement comes amid continuing political debate and criticism surrounding the functioning of the Election Commission of India and the conduct of elections in several states.
The collective accused institutions tasked with safeguarding democracy of enabling voter exclusion, intimidating political participation and weakening constitutional rights, particularly for women and minority communities.
The signatories said they were speaking “not for any single state, party or leader,” but in defence of democratic participation and constitutional rights. They alleged that electoral processes in recent years had increasingly led to voter exclusion, intimidation and reduced public trust in institutions, particularly among women and minority communities.
A major concern raised in the statement related to voter list revision exercises. Referring to West Bengal’s 2026 electoral process, the collective claimed that more than 91 lakh names — nearly 12 per cent of the electorate — were removed during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. According to the signatories, many of those affected were long-time voters possessing valid identification documents whose grievances allegedly remained unresolved.
The statement further claimed that similar concerns had earlier been reported in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, describing the developments as part of a broader pattern rather than isolated administrative exercises.
The collective also expressed concern over the deployment of central security forces during elections. According to the statement, the heavy presence of security personnel in some areas created fear among sections of voters, particularly among marginalised communities.
Referring to incidents reported in parts of West Bengal, the statement alleged that some voters were obstructed or assaulted near counting centres. It also accused BJP workers of involvement in incidents of post-election violence and arson, while alleging inadequate administrative response.
“Democracy cannot exist in militarised and controlled zones,” the statement said, adding that heavily securitised electoral environments could discourage women from participating in politics, either as candidates or voters.
The signatories also criticised the judiciary, saying courts needed to respond more urgently to concerns involving democratic institutions and electoral rights.
“Judicial independence must also mean judicial urgency when democracy itself is at stake,” the statement said.
Linking electoral integrity with women’s political representation, the collective referred to the delay in implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. The statement argued that women often face the greatest impact of political intimidation, exclusion and violence in periods of democratic strain.
The statement concluded by warning against what it described as the growing “normalisation of mass disenfranchisement” and the “erosion of institutional neutrality.”
Reaffirming their commitment to constitutional values, the signatories said democracy could not function through “selective participation” and stressed that free and fair elections must be assessed not only by voter turnout, but also by the inclusiveness, transparency and credibility of the entire electoral process.
