India, Aug. 2 -- In a democracy, the relationship between the state and its citizens is marked by direct engagement, with elections serving as the primary means through which this engagement is exercised. The authority of the state is not self-derived; it flows from the collective will of the people, expressed through the act of voting. As thinkers from Locke to Ambedkar have emphasised in different contexts, the legitimacy of the state rests on the consent and confidence of the governed. This makes it not only a right but also a duty of the state to ensure that only eligible citizens are given the opportunity to vote freely, fairly, and meaningfully. A failure to do so, whether through neglect or manipulation, amounts to a failure of the...