Indian Opposition Alarms Supreme Court Over 'Threat to Democracy' from Modi-Shah Regime

Twenty-three Indian Opposition parties, led by the Congress party, have formally appealed to the Chief Justice of India, raising urgent concerns that the nation's 'electoral democracy' faces the 'gravest of threats' from the ruling 'Modi-Shah regime'. Their letter, sent on June 28, 2026, and made public on July 3, 2026, alleges widespread manipulation of the electoral process, accusing the government of undermining free and fair elections and compromising constitutional institutions. At the heart of the controversy are claims of a 'flawed Special Intensive Revision (SIR)' of 'electoral rolls', which the Opposition says led to the 'massive deletion of names', disenfranchising millions, including 27 lakh voters in West Bengal alone. This comes despite the Supreme Court upholding the ECI power to conduct SIR on May 27, 2026, acknowledging it 'advances the constitutional imperative of free and fair elections' but without fully addressing concerns over 5.18 crore names deleted nationally. Furthermore, the Opposition points to the new Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Office and Terms of Office) Act, 2023, which removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, sparking fears of executive dominance over the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Opposition's letter urgently calls for the suspension of the current SIR process, proposing it be relaunched when state elections are at least five years away, to ensure transparent verification. They also demand a serious look at bringing back 'ballot papers' where suitable and express worry about central agencies being misused to target political rivals. The unfolding situation sets the stage for a critical legal and political showdown, with the Supreme Court now under pressure to address these profound questions about the integrity of India's democratic foundations.