Abdullah and Mufti said they were "deeply concerned" about what they described as significant differences within the Election Commission of India (ECI) and urged the authorities to undertake an urgent course correction.
Abdullah warned that persistent complaints about the ECI’s functioning have been ignored, adding that the recent delimitation exercise was "opaque and flawed" and appeared designed to benefit a single political party and its supporters.
He further alleged that eligible voters were being arbitrarily removed from the electoral roll and, in some cases, denied passports, suggesting that such actions undermine the foundation of democracy, which he defined as free and fair elections.
Mufti accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "subverting the electoral process by fudging electoral rolls" and warned that continued manipulation could push India toward a "banana republic" model, despite her praise for two election commissioners who, in her view, have shown the courage to question those in power.
Both leaders referenced earlier controversies, including the so‑called SIR issue and the contentious delimitation process, arguing that a loss of public trust in elections threatens the very essence of democratic governance in the world’s largest democracy.
They called on the Election Commission and the central government to examine the poll panel’s functioning, address the alleged internal rifts, and implement corrective measures to restore confidence in the electoral system.