Former Indian Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa has argued that elections without real competition cannot be considered victories for democracy. Writing in a commentary published on May 21, 2026, he compared political competition to the essential spirit of sports and business, saying that without credible rivals and a neutral referee, the democratic process loses legitimacy. Lavasa emphasized that true mandates require genuine contests where voters believe the process is fair and transparent.
He criticized provisions in India’s electoral law that allow candidates to win unopposed and highlighted recent events in West Bengal, where over 2.7 million voters were removed from rolls during a rushed verification process. Lavasa questioned the Election Commission’s neutrality and the judiciary’s silence as millions lost their voting rights without a functioning appeal mechanism. He warned that such actions erode public confidence and damage the democratic fabric.
Lavasa concluded that a democracy without competition or impartial oversight risks turning into a hollow exercise, where victories lack meaning and the very essence of people’s rule is compromised.
অশোক লাভাসা প্রকাশ : ২১ মে ২০২৬, ১০: ৪৪আপডেট : ২১ মে ২০২৬, ১০: ৫৫ এক শিল্পপতির গল্প বলি। ভদ্রলোকের কোম্পানির ব্যবসা দারুণ চলছিল। প্রতিষ্ঠার মাত্র এক দশকের মধ্যে বাজারের প্রায় ৪০ শতাংশের বেশি তাদের দখলে চলে আসে। একদিন তাকে জিজ্ঞেস করলাম, ‘এতদূর তো এলে
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