In a strongly worded open letter, 272 eminent citizens—including retired judges, former bureaucrats, and ex‑armed forces officers—have sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his persistent “vote chori” (vote theft) allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). They warn that his rhetoric threatens the credibility of India’s democratic institutions.

Institutional Integrity Under Attack

The group, comprising 16 retired judges, 23 former bureaucrats, and 133 senior military veterans, accused Gandhi of unleashing his “impotent rage born out of repeated electoral defeat” to undermine the ECI. In their letter titled “Assault on National Constitutional Authorities,” they argue that his tactics amount to a theatrical political strategy, not a substantiated policy critique.

They express concern that key democratic institutions—the armed forces, judiciary, Parliament, and now the Election Commission—are being systematically targeted with unverified claims and hostile accusations.

Charges of Unsubstantiated Allegations

According to the signatories, Gandhi repeatedly declares he has “open-and-shut proof” of mass vote theft. They say he has resorted to “unbelievably uncouth rhetoric,” calling his own claim an “atom bomb” and threatening to “hound” Election Commission officials even after their retirement.

Yet, they point out, no formal complaint backed by a sworn affidavit has been filed by Gandhi—a fact they say allows him to evade accountability while intimidating public servants.

The group also defended the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which Gandhi’s Congress has criticised. In contrast to Gandhi’s claims, the letter argues that the ECI has been transparent: it has publicly shared its SIR methodology, permitted court‑monitored verification, removed ineligible voters, and added newly eligible voters to the rolls.

The letter accuses Gandhi and some of his allies of describing the ECI as the “B‑team of the BJP”—a smear they say collapses under scrutiny.

Selective Outrage and Political Frustration

The 272 signatories suggest that Gandhi’s repeated attacks on the ECI reflect not genuine institutional reform, but “political frustration” after repeated electoral setbacks. They accuse him of deploying “selective outrage”: criticising the Election Commission when his party loses, but staying silent when outcomes go his way.

They write: “When political leaders lose touch with ordinary citizens, they lash out at institutions instead of rebuilding their credibility. Theatrics replace analysis. Public spectacle takes the place of public service.”

A Call to Uphold Democratic Norms

In their final appeal, the former judges and bureaucrats urge political actors to respect India’s constitutional processes and to compete on the basis of policy, not rhetoric. They reaffirm their faith in the ECI, the judiciary, the armed forces, and other key democratic institutions as the “essential guardians of India’s democracy.”

As the controversy around Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” campaign continues, this unified stand from high‑profile former officials highlights the high stakes: whether democratic institutions will remain beyond reproach, or be dragged into partisan warfare.