Open letter from 124 former officers amid allegations of vote theft: Support for Election Commission and SIR, demand for concrete evidence for allegations

Amid the ongoing political controversy over allegations of rigging in elections, 124 former IAS, IFS, and other service officers have issued an open letter in support of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The letter describes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll as a necessary process. It also states that allegations of electoral malpractice should be made based on verifiable evidence. The name of former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal is mentioned among those who signed the letter. This letter comes at a time when the opposition is protesting in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a stay on the SIR.

What has been said in the letter

The former officers have written that the country's electoral system has undergone major changes over time. According to them, problems like booth capturing, fake votes in ballot boxes, and violence were seen earlier, whereas now many security measures are in place. These include the presence of candidates' agents at polling stations, sealing of EVMs, security of strong rooms, and verification of VVPAT slips.

The core argument of the letter is that no system can be considered honest when one wins and rigged when one loses. The officers stated that the party ruling at the Centre has lost several assembly elections under this same commission, and it did not get an absolute majority on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to them, based on these examples, discussions on allegations of rigging should be held with concrete evidence.

Example of Bihar

The letter cites the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The former officers claim that in this election, there was no need for re-polling at any seat, and the highest voter turnout since 1951 was recorded. They termed this as a sign of improvement in election management. These claims belong to the letter and need to be verified against official data.

Why SIR was termed necessary

According to the officers, the purpose of SIR is to keep the electoral roll accurate and updated. Under this, checks are conducted for deceased voters, names registered in more than one place, and people who have permanently moved elsewhere. The letter states that errors in the list increase the risk of votes being cast using fake identities.

The figures for the revision in Bihar given in the letter are as follows:

• Identification of about 22 lakh deceased voters
• About seven lakh duplicate entries
• Names of approximately 21.5 lakh new voters added

Additionally, according to a report in the letter, it is also stated that the court has upheld the Election Commission's authority to conduct the SIR. To officially confirm this, it is necessary to check the relevant court order.

What was said on the apprehension of names being deleted

The former officers acknowledged that during the revision, the name of an eligible voter could be deleted by mistake, so there should be adequate safeguards. They said that the process includes the publication of a draft list, an opportunity for claims and objections, and a system for hearings and appeals. According to them, it is not wrong to raise questions about reforms or administrative errors, but the investigation should be done through the established legal process.

Responsibility of evidence and appeal to citizens

The letter states that every citizen has the right to ask questions, but the responsibility to prove the allegations lies with the one making them. The officers mentioned legal avenues such as filing objections to the electoral roll and filing election petitions in the High Court. They warned that allegations made without evidence could weaken public trust in the electoral process.

The letter appealed to citizens to check their names in the electoral roll and help their families, neighbors, and migrant workers. The role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other election personnel was also appreciated.

Opposition's stance and current situation

The opposition is demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and a stay on the SIR, alleging 'vote theft'. The response of opposition parties or the Election Commission to this letter was not available to us at the time of writing this report. Earlier, information about an open letter written by 42 former judges had also surfaced. The report will be updated as new responses come in.