'Democratic Backsliding In India?' Ashoka University Faculty's Paper Stirs Major Row With Electoral Manipulation Charge https://www.outlookindia.com/national/-democratic-backsliding-in-india-ashoka-university-faculty-s-paper-stirs-major-row-with-electoral-manipulation-charge-news-309827 On August 1, the University issued a statement saying it is dismayed by the speculation and debate around a recent paper by one of its faculty members, Sabyasachi Das, and the university's position on its contents. ..The University’s response was described by some academicians as an act of cowardice and the BJP was equally critical of it, saying, “How can any University allow it.”
The paper titled “Democratic Backsliding in the World’s Largest Democracy” https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID4528365_code3073096.pdf?abstractid=4512936 published on July 25, in its abstract says, “This paper contributes to the discussion by documenting irregular patterns in the 2019 general election in India and identifying whether they are due to electoral manipulation or precise control, i.e., incumbent party’s ability to precisely predict and affect win margins through campaigning.”
S Sen on Whats app: Apparently, the University came under tremendous pressure: Political and defence analyst [and a known rabid saffronite] Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, described the “research” as crap. He said it is the second time one of the professors of the University has put out bogus “research” in just one year. Mitra called for an immediate review of Ashoka’s accreditation.