India, Sept. 21 -- Electoral democracy is not rhetoric; it is democracy in practice. But when the fundamental principles of electoral democracy are violated, the claim no longer holds. It becomes rhetoric, with democracy as the victim.

That is the unfortunate state India finds itself in today, demanding that all measures be taken to restore it, lest the nation spiral into a failed state, as has happened in countries where electoral democracy is dead.

As per the latest reports, more than 13 crore names have been excluded from draft electoral rolls across 30 States and Union Territories. Delhi's draft roll eliminated about 32.8 per cent of its pre-Special Intensive Review (SIR) electorate. In comparison, Maharashtra's fell by more than 21...