A total of 272 retired judges, bureaucrats, former Army officers, and diplomats have strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party for allegedly undermining the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The group released an open letter titled Assault on National Constitutional Authorities, describing the Congress-led “vote chori” campaign as an attempt to mask political frustration as an institutional crisis.
What Does the Letter Say?
The letter raised concern over the rising use of harsh rhetoric against India’s core institutions, stating that certain political leaders rely on dramatic strategies and unverified claims instead of presenting genuine policy alternatives. It highlighted a pattern in which Congress leaders have targeted constitutional bodies, from the Armed Forces and Judiciary to Parliament and now the Election Commission.
The signatories specifically condemned Rahul Gandhi’s repeated allegations of vote theft, noting that he has not submitted formal complaints or sworn affidavits. His “atom bomb” remarks were described as uncouth and unsupported by evidence. The letter defended the impartiality of the SIR (Systematic Improvement of Roll) process, stating that the ECI has publicly shared its methodology, verified voter-roll changes through court-approved procedures, removed ineligible names, and added eligible voters.
Referencing former Chief Election Commissioners T.N. Seshan and N. Gopalaswami, the letter praised their leadership in strengthening the ECI as a robust constitutional guardian, emphasising that current officials continue to uphold this legacy.
This open letter underscores how former judges and bureaucrats collectively criticised Rahul Gandhi for attempting to tarnish the Election Commission’s credibility while affirming the impartial functioning of India’s electoral authority.
A group of 272 eminent citizens — including 16 retired judges, 123 former bureaucrats (14 ex-ambassadors) and 133 retired armed-forces officers — have penned an open letter titled “Assault on National Constitutional Authorities.”
The letter accuses Leader of… pic.twitter.com/iWL8sbx9O6
— Buzz Alerts (@BuzzAlertsLive) November 19, 2025
