The need to preserve the shine of Indian elections

The intense and unabated protests happening around and about the Election Commission of India (ECI) have thrown up a bigger question — whether the much vaunted Indian election is losing its shine. This concern is irrespective of when and how the immediate fire is doused, for the smoke could linger. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and its management have raised many questions during the last year, inviting attention, litigation and agitation. But the malaise facing the Indian electoral system is even wider. The unidimensional nature of the present noise might be drowning a larger challenge; the current scenario may only be a wakeup call.