A group of 272 eminent citizens, including retired judges, bureaucrats, and military officers, have penned an open letter criticizing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress for allegedly undermining constitutional bodies, particularly the Election Commission. The letter accuses the opposition of baseless rhetoric and “systematic and conspiratorial attacks” against the ECI, urging civil society to support the institution. Rahul Gandhi (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: A group of 272 eminent citizens, comprising 16 judges, 123 retired bureaucrats including 14 former ambassadors, and 133 retired armed forces officers issued an open letter criticising the Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress for what they describe as attempts to undermine constitutional institutions, particularly the Election Commission. The letter, titled “Assault on National Constitutional Authorities” and dated 18 November 2025, accuses opposition leaders of levelling “venomous rhetoric” against key institutions and using “provocative but unsubstantiated accusations” to further political narratives. It states that after attacking the armed forces, the judiciary, Parliament and constitutional authorities, the opposition has now targeted the EC with “systematic and conspiratorial attacks.”The signatories said the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha has repeatedly claimed to possess “open and shut proof” of vote theft, alleging that the ECI is guilty of “treason.” The letter points out that he has threatened officials, saying he will “not spare them,” yet has not filed a formal complaint or supported his allegations with a sworn affidavit.According to the letter, leaders from the Congress, other opposition parties, left-leaning NGOs and “ideologically opinionated scholars” have amplified similar charges, even calling the Commission the “B-team of the BJP.” The signatories argue that these claims collapse upon scrutiny. They note that the EC has publicly shared its methodology for the Statewide Intensive Revision, conducted court-sanctioned checks, removed ineligible names and added new eligible voters.The letter calls this pattern of allegations “impotent rage,” suggesting it stems from “electoral failure and frustration” rather than evidence. It says opposition parties criticise the EC only when results do not favour them, calling this “selective outrage” and “opportunism.”The citizens invoke the legacy of former chief election commissioners TN Seshan and N. Gopalaswami, saying they upheld the Commission’s authority with fearlessness and impartiality, and turned it into a “formidable constitutional sentinel.”The letter urges civil society to stand with the EC “out of conviction, not flattery,” and asks political parties to stop undermining institutions with “baseless allegations and theatrical denunciations.” It also raises concerns about ensuring the integrity of electoral rolls, warning that fake voters and non-citizens should have no role in determining India’s government. The letter compares India’s approach to that of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany and France, arguing that strong safeguards are essential to preserve democratic stability.The signatories call on the Election Commission to maintain transparency, publish complete data and defend itself legally when required. They also urge political leaders to compete through policy, not accusations, and to accept election outcomes with maturity.The letter concludes by reaffirming faith in the Indian armed forces, judiciary, executive and the Election Commission. It says India’s democratic institutions must not become “political punching bags” and calls for leadership grounded in “truth, ideas and service.” About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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NEW DELHI: A group of 272 eminent citizens, comprising 16 judges, 123 retired bureaucrats including 14 former ambassadors, and 133 retired armed forces officers issued an open letter criticising the Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress for what they describe as attempts to undermine constitutional institutions, particularly the Election Commission. The letter, titled “Assault on National Constitutional Authorities” and dated 18 November 2025, accuses opposition leaders of levelling “venomous rhetoric” against key institutions and using “provocative but unsubstantiated accusations” to further political narratives. It states that after attacking the armed forces, the judiciary, Parliament and constitutional authorities, the opposition has now targeted the EC with “systematic and conspiratorial attacks.”The signatories said the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha has repeatedly claimed to possess “open and shut proof” of vote theft, alleging that the ECI is guilty of “treason.” The letter points out that he has threatened officials, saying he will “not spare them,” yet has not filed a formal complaint or supported his allegations with a sworn affidavit.According to the letter, leaders from the Congress, other opposition parties, left-leaning NGOs and “ideologically opinionated scholars” have amplified similar charges, even calling the Commission the “B-team of the BJP.” The signatories argue that these claims collapse upon scrutiny. They note that the EC has publicly shared its methodology for the Statewide Intensive Revision, conducted court-sanctioned checks, removed ineligible names and added new eligible voters.The letter calls this pattern of allegations “impotent rage,” suggesting it stems from “electoral failure and frustration” rather than evidence. It says opposition parties criticise the EC only when results do not favour them, calling this “selective outrage” and “opportunism.”The citizens invoke the legacy of former chief election commissioners TN Seshan and N. Gopalaswami, saying they upheld the Commission’s authority with fearlessness and impartiality, and turned it into a “formidable constitutional sentinel.”The letter urges civil society to stand with the EC “out of conviction, not flattery,” and asks political parties to stop undermining institutions with “baseless allegations and theatrical denunciations.” It also raises concerns about ensuring the integrity of electoral rolls, warning that fake voters and non-citizens should have no role in determining India’s government. The letter compares India’s approach to that of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany and France, arguing that strong safeguards are essential to preserve democratic stability.The signatories call on the Election Commission to maintain transparency, publish complete data and defend itself legally when required. They also urge political leaders to compete through policy, not accusations, and to accept election outcomes with maturity.The letter concludes by reaffirming faith in the Indian armed forces, judiciary, executive and the Election Commission. It says India’s democratic institutions must not become “political punching bags” and calls for leadership grounded in “truth, ideas and service.”
