Former CEC TN Seshan was feared, formidable & famously outspoken. He was never partisan. In contrast, Gyanesh Kumar has a cavalier disdain, even disrespect, toward the Opposition. Gyanesh Kumar’s actions represent a systematic erosion of constitutional guarantees. Gyanesh Kumar is not guilty of only administrative excess. He has been a constitutional failure. The Republic cannot function with a compromised umpire. Elections cannot be credible if the referee is in question, bent on demolishing the level playing field. And democracy cannot survive if the voter is treated as a suspect. Kumar’s tenure has raised too many questions, triggered too many doubts, and crossed too many lines. The cost of inaction is simply too high. Therefore, constitutionally and unequivocally, CEC Gyanesh Kumar must go. Watch this week’s column for ThePrint by Sagarika Ghose, TMC MP, Rajya Sabha