In this debate, former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, Congress national spokesperson Bhavya Narasimhamurthy, and BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari discuss allegations surrounding the Election Commission of India and its leadership under CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Pradeep Bhandari defended the poll body, asserting that constitutional decisions under Article 324 require unanimity and dismissing opposition claims as source-based fake news. In contrast, Bhavya questioned why NDA chief ministers are issuing statements on behalf of a constitutional body instead of the Chief Election Commissioner addressing the public directly. Emphasising institutional integrity, O.P. Rawat stated, 'Election Commission must come out, answer every point, every accusation,' noting that winning or losing elections does not impact an institution's objectivity. Recalling the EVM challenge organised during his tenure, Rawat maintained that all three commissioners share collective responsibility and must engage openly with citizens to allay concerns and restore confidence.
