The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Association has strongly condemned what it deems "unwarranted criticism" and "personal attacks" directed towards Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and his family members, in the wake of "vote theft" allegations leveled by opposition leaders.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the IAS Association stated that such personal attacks are "unconnected with the discharge of official duties". The association further emphasized its commitment to "the dignity and integrity in public service". The IAS Association also noted "with concern that unwarranted criticism has been directed against the family members of the Chief Election Commissioner, who also happen to be well reputed civil servants".

The condemnation from the IAS Association follows allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) made by opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Gandhi and other opposition figures have accused the ECI of acting under pressure from the central government and engaging in large-scale voter suppression to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These allegations have led to online trolling and personal attacks against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and his family, particularly his daughters. Both of Kumar's daughters and sons-in-law are serving civil servants. Kumar's younger brother is also a serving senior Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer.

Adding to the controversy, Rahul Gandhi warned the CEC and the two Election Commissioners of potential "action" if the INDIA bloc forms the government. Gandhi's remarks were made during a gathering in Gaya, Bihar, where he accused the election commissioners of working for the BJP and stealing votes from the entire country.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has refuted the allegations of vote theft and has challenged Rahul Gandhi to either provide a signed affidavit with evidence to support his claims or apologize. Kumar stated that if an affidavit is not received within seven days, the allegations will be dismissed as baseless. He also defended the integrity of the electoral process, highlighting the involvement of over one crore officials, ten lakh booth-level agents, and twenty lakh polling agents in a Lok Sabha election, questioning how vote theft could occur in such a transparent environment.

Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, retired as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation in January 2024. He was appointed as Election Commissioner in March 2025 and assumed the charge of CEC in February 2025.

The IAS Association's statement underscores the importance of respecting the independence and dignity of constitutional institutions like the Election Commission. It also highlights the role of civil servants in maintaining neutrality, credibility, and trust in governance, while safeguarding the rights and privacy of their families from political controversies. The association's stance reflects a growing concern within the civil services about the shrinking space for neutrality in an increasingly polarized public discourse.