Litmus test for democracy

Voters in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal expectantly wait for May 4 when counting begins in one of the most fiercely contested assembly elections in recent memory. This election season has been overshadowed by controversies surrounding the Election Commission of India (ECI), with critics accusing it of showing bias toward the ruling BJP. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, especially in West Bengal and Assam, has further fueled debate about fairness and transparency. Exit polls released on April 29 followed expected lines. In West Bengal, the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) appear evenly matched, though it remains uncertain whether the BJP will finally break through after repeated attempts since 2016. In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which achieved a rare second consecutive term in 2021, is now seeking an unprecedented third term. This possibility arises largely from infighting within the Congress. Pollsters, however, expect the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to edge past the Left, though the final outcome will only be known on May 4. Women’s reservation has also been a campaign issue in Kerala and West Bengal. The BJP accused opposition parties of betraying women by defeating the government’s amendments for implementation of women’s reservation. However, what was actually at stake was not the reservation itself, but the government’s attempt to tie the quota to increase in the number of parliamentary seats through census and delimitation. By framing the issue as opposition to women’s rights, the BJP conveniently sidestepped the fact that its proposal linked reservation to structural changes in representation, which many parties feared could be used for political advantage. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK under M.K. Stalin is fighting hard to retain power for a second term. Yet the real challenge may not come from the AIADMK-BJP alliance but from actor Vijay, whose entry into politics has captured public imagination. Tamil Nadu has long seen film stars shape politics, and this election continues that tradition. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to secure a third consecutive term for the BJP, which first won in 2016 and retained power in 2021. However, Assam’s politics, like West Bengal’s, has been marked by communal rhetoric and divisive speeches. The BJP’s campaign has often relied on fear and suspicion, raising concerns about the health of democracy. At the heart of these contests lies a bigger question- can elections in India still guarantee freedom of choice? Democracy requires fairness, equal treatment of all parties, and respect for institutions?. The ECI itself has come under sharp criticism. Its role appears increasingly partisan, while central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, CBI, and NIA are accused of being weaponized against political rivals. Opposition leaders point to frequent raids and interrogations as evidence of selective enforcement, undermining federalism. Prime Minister Modi defends these actions as legitimate law enforcement, but many see them as blackmail. The judiciary too has been cautious. In 2023, the Supreme Court declined to admit a petition by 14 opposition parties challenging arbitrary arrests, raising doubts about judicial independence. Allegations of voter roll irregularities in 2025 were also brushed aside, despite millions of missing names. Ultimately, democracy depends on trust. If institutions appear compromised, citizens lose faith in the system itself. On May 4, voters will deliver their verdict. But unless the election process regains its credibility , India risks losing the very foundation of its democratic promise.