The Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently facing scrutiny regarding its functional autonomy and decision-making processes. An editorial published by The Hindu, titled 'Deep rot,' argues that the institution is experiencing a significant decline in its effectiveness and perceived neutrality. The publication suggests that the commission's recent conduct during election cycles has deviated from the high standards of independence historically expected of the constitutional body.

The critique centers on the idea that the ECI’s internal mechanisms are failing to maintain a level playing field for all political participants. By using the term 'deep rot,' the editorial implies that these issues are systemic rather than isolated incidents. While the article focuses on the institution's performance, it stops short of detailing specific policy failures or individual administrative actions, instead framing the situation as a broader crisis of institutional integrity. The Hindu’s perspective emphasizes that the credibility of the democratic process is inextricably linked to the ECI’s ability to function without external influence or partisan bias. As of now, the ECI has not issued a formal public response to these specific characterizations of its internal operations.