IAS Body Slams Personal Attacks on CEC’s Family

• The IAS community defended CEC Gyanesh Kumar from online trolling.
• His family, including his daughters, was targeted with personal attacks.
• The trolling followed remarks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
• The IAS Association called the attacks “unwarranted abuse.”

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Aug: In a powerful show of solidarity, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) community has come out in strong defence of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after his family, particularly his daughters, became the target of severe and personal online trolling. The attacks erupted in the wake of a heated political climate, spotlighting the growing trend of public officials’ families being dragged into political crossfire.

The trigger for the vitriol is widely attributed to recent remarks by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who, amid criticisms of the Election Commission of India (ECI), controversially stated that the Opposition “will not spare” the Chief Election Commissioner. While the comment was aimed at the institution’s functioning, it inadvertently opened the floodgates for a wave of online abuse directed not at the CEC in his official capacity, but at his immediate family.

The IAS Association expressed grave concern over the matter, issuing a sharp rebuke of the personal attacks. In a statement, the association stressed that the trolling amounted to “unwarranted abuse and personal attacks” that were entirely disconnected from the functioning of the Election Commission.

“We strongly deprecate such personal attacks unconnected with the discharge of official duties,” the association said, calling for the maintenance of dignity and integrity in public discourse. The response underscores the administrative fraternity’s growing anxiety over the safety and privacy of officers and their families, who are increasingly finding themselves on the front lines of political battlegrounds.

A member of the IAS community, speaking on the condition of anonymity, elaborated, “Criticism of institutional decisions is a fundamental part of a vibrant democracy. Officers are prepared for fair scrutiny of their official actions. However, dragging their families, especially children, into political debates is a reprehensible act that undermines the very dignity of public service.”

CEC Gyanesh Kumar, who assumed charge on February 19, 2025, has been at the centre of a political maelstrom for weeks. The ECI has faced heightened criticism from opposition parties over allegations surrounding the Bihar voter list and broader accusations of electoral misconduct. The social media storm intensified exponentially following the political remarks, with the backlash spilling over to target his daughters, who are themselves well-regarded civil servants.

This incident has sparked a broader debate about the limits of political criticism and the need to protect public servants from becoming the subject of personal vendettas that can poison the well of democratic engagement.