Jairam Ramesh claims the move is a damage-control tactic after allegations of skewed electoral rolls helped the BJP win the state assembly polls. But here’s the twist; two other Election Commissioners reportedly objected 14 times in 10 months to SIR-related decisions. The EC insists all orders are legally valid. Yet, the optics are damning: why now? Why after the polls? The public isn’t buying the ‘just fixing errors’ line. The deeper story? Trust in India’s electoral machinery is fraying; and the most powerful institution meant to protect democracy is now at the center of a credibility crisis. If voters can be excluded, then re-added post-election, what does that say about the fairness of the process? The real question isn’t about names on a list; it’s about whether India’s elections still feel legitimate.