“If the umpire looks biased, no one believes the winning team truly deserved it,” he said. And right now, India’s electoral umpire; the Election Commission; is under intense scrutiny. Why? Because two of its own commissioners have objected; on record; 14 times in just 10 months. Their concerns? Major decisions, including the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, were taken without their knowledge. This isn’t just about paperwork. In West Bengal alone, 60 lakh voters were put under adjudication. That’s not minor. That’s a massive disruption; especially ahead of elections. Lavasa doesn’t mince words: the goal now seems to be exclusion, not inclusion. Unlike Sukumar Sen’s era, where everyone eligible was added, today there’s suspicion; not evidence; guiding who stays on the voter list. And the public is noticing. Protests are growing. Actors, activists, and opposition leaders are calling this a direct threat to democracy. One line in a report triggered this storm. That’s how fragile trust in institutions can be. What’s next? No one knows. But Lavasa’s warning is clear: when the umpire loses neutrality, the game itself is at risk. This isn’t politics. It’s about whether your vote still counts; and who gets to decide.