That’s exactly what played out in Delhi this week. The Opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, marched to the EC headquarters demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; accusing him of helping BJP ‘steal’ elections. Their ask? A meeting with all 240 MPs; at Parliament House Annexe. The EC said no. Too unusual. Too unprecedented. They offered to send their senior officer to pick up the memorandum instead; but that too was refused. The protocol? Meetings happen at EC premises, with prior appointments. And the EC isn’t about to break its own rules, even under political pressure. This isn’t just about a meeting. It’s about who controls the rules of democracy’s biggest game; and who gets to rewrite them when the stakes are high. The standoff continues. And for aspirants watching this closely; this is how institutions hold their ground… or don’t.