Erosion of Institutional Trust in India's Electoral System: Structural Biases, Media Polarization, and Historical Legacies
Original framing: “‘Shaken faith’: Why are India’s elections under unprecedented scrutiny?” — Al Jazeera
The 1975‑77 Emergency saw the suspension of elections and the centralisation of electoral authority, a episode that left lasting institutional scars and prompted later reforms to safeguard independence. Post‑Emergency reforms introduced stricter tenure protections for Election Commissioners, yet recent amendments have eroded those safeguards, echoing the earlier power‑centralisation pattern. Recognising this cycle shows that current scrutiny is not anomalous but part of a historic tug‑of‑war between state control and electoral autonomy.
The scrutiny of India’s elections is not an isolated crisis of faith but the latest manifestation of a historic tug‑of‑war between executive power and electoral autonomy, a pattern evident from the Emergency era to recent institutional reforms.
Mainstream narratives overlook indigenous verification methods, marginalised voter experiences, and cross‑cultural oversight models that could restore legitimacy. By integrating scientific transparency, community‑based verification, and multi‑stakeholder governance, India can break the cycle of incremental democratic erosion and build a resilient electoral system that reflects its diverse social fabric.