Chairman IPS raises concerns over the integrity of India’s electoral system, democratic values

Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman was invited by the India Study Centre (ISC) of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) to deliver a keynote speech at the launching ceremony of its study ‘Quantifying Electoral Politics of Congress and BJP’ on January 9, 2025.

Addressing the event, Rahman raised concerns over India’s self-proclaimed status of being the largest democracy, questioning whether the claim was actually reflected in the country’s democractic values, or was it only a facade. He pointed out several anamolies in the claim, such as the manipulation of voter rolls, suppression of civil society organizations, and changes in the appointment process for the Chief Election Commissioner. According to Rahman, these developments have led to increased control over electoral institutions, calling into question both the integrity of India’s electoral system, as well as its commitment to the actual democratic values.

Rahman emphasized the importance of data-driven research, particularly in relation to India’s electoral and political processes, as a means to enhance understanding of the complex political landscape in India.