The mood at the event was one of frustration and determination, as speakers and attendees expressed deep concerns over the erosion of democratic rights in the country
NEW DELHI – In the wake of the explosive ‘Vote Chori’ scandal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Vote Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, a public meeting on Electoral Process and Democracy struck a powerful chord with citizens demanding urgent electoral reforms. The event, organised by Lok Raj Sangathan at the Constitution Club here on Sunday, saw overwhelming participation, particularly from youth, who packed the venue to capacity.
The mood was one of frustration and determination, as speakers and attendees expressed deep concerns over the erosion of democratic rights in the country. The scandal — which has exposed large-scale voter list manipulation and fraudulent voting across several states — has triggered widespread outrage. Rahul Gandhi’s yatra has further energised public discourse, placing electoral transparency and the right to vote at the centre of national attention.
Presiding over the meeting, S. Raghavan, President of Lok Raj Sangathan, stated that the ‘Vote Chori’ scandal is not an isolated case but a symptom of a deep crisis in the country’s electoral process. “The right to vote has been reduced to a ritual,” he said. “Exclusions from voter rolls, the unreliability of EVMs, and the influence of money and muscle power all point to a system that no longer represents the people.”
Raghavan likened current reforms to “allopathic treatment” that only addresses symptoms. “What we need is a new political process where the people — not parties — hold sovereignty,” he declared. He called for the right to select and elect candidates, the right to recall, citizen-initiated legislation, and state funding of elections to eliminate corporate influence.
Ashok Kumar Sharma (Retd IFS) sharply criticised the way elections have become a business venture for political parties. Referencing the ‘Vote Chori’ revelations, he noted that voter list manipulation and digital fraud are being institutionalised. He also questioned the credibility of EVMs, warning that India is ignoring global concerns about electronic voting integrity.
Anjali Bharadwaj, co-convenor of the National Campaign for the Right to Information, demanded public access to Form 17C, transparency in vote counting, and machine-readable voter lists. “Democracy cannot survive if people lose faith in elections,” she warned, echoing public sentiment now amplified by Rahul Gandhi’s yatra.
Adv. Shahid Ali cited the Supreme Court’s Anoop Baranwal judgment on the appointment of Election Commissioners and raised alarm over the EC’s increasing proximity to the executive. Com Birju Nayak (CGPI), Dr Venkatesh (CJAR), Dr Ravinder (Lok Paksh), and Dr Kapil Kakar also condemned the domination of elections by corporate and criminal interests, demanding systemic changes including referendums, right to recall, and direct accountability of elected representatives.
The event concluded with a call by Sucharita, the host, for nationwide mobilisation. “People must be empowered not just to vote, but to truly decide,” she said. “The rot in our political system is deep, and only a holistic transformation — not cosmetic changes — can restore democracy.”
The meeting’s message resonated with the growing national unrest: India’s electoral democracy stands at a crossroads. As the Vote Adhikar Yatra builds momentum and revelations of ‘Vote Chori’ spark outrage, voices from civil society are making it clear — only a new political process rooted in people’s sovereignty can redeem the promise of democracy.
