New Delhi: A heated debate on electoral reforms unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique of the existing election framework, accusing the government of resisting transparency and accountability. Speaking during a discussion on electoral processes, Gandhi outlined what he called the “minimum essentials” required to restore public trust in India’s democratic system.
Calling for major structural reforms, Gandhi said the first step must be the provision of machine-readable voter lists to all political parties at least one month before elections. He argued that reliable and accessible voter data is crucial to preventing discrepancies and ensuring that no eligible citizen is excluded from the electoral roll.
Targeting amendments that allow the destruction of CCTV recordings, Gandhi demanded that Parliament reverse the law immediately. He claimed that such provisions weaken transparency at polling stations and create room for manipulation.
Raising long-standing concerns about electronic voting machines, Gandhi said political parties and independent experts should be given full access to EVMs and their internal architecture.
“Let our experts see what’s inside the EVM. Till today, we’re not physically allowed to examine them,” he said, reiterating the Opposition’s claim that lack of access fuels suspicion and weakens public confidence in elections.
Gandhi also criticised the legal framework governing the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that current provisions allow “unchecked authority” and make it difficult to question or audit the Commission’s decisions. He urged the government to amend laws that allegedly give the ECI “absolute immunity” in matters of conduct and oversight.
