Kumar noted that all candidates and parties are involved in every stage of the electoral process with utmost transparency. He emphasised that participating in each step without raising objections or filing appeals during the process, and then attempting to create doubt afterwards, is undesirable. He stated, "The Commission, as an institution, often finds itself unfairly blamed by those unwilling to accept electoral outcomes."
During his tenure, Kumar observed a pattern where, during peak polling or counting hours, a wave of fake allegations and rumours begins to spread across media and social media platforms, misleading people and creating confusion. He pointed out that narratives are deliberately set to distort facts, while the Commission maintains a policy of restraint to ensure the integrity and smooth conduct of elections.
Kumar's tenure as CEC spanned approximately four and a half years, during which he oversaw elections in 31 states and union territories, including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as well as the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections in 2022. Despite these accomplishments, his term was marked by criticism from opposition parties, who questioned the Commission's impartiality and independence.
In October, following allegations from the Congress party regarding irregularities in electronic voting machines during the Haryana assembly elections, Kumar defended the robustness and safety of EVMs. He remarked, "It cannot be that when the results don't suit you, then it is working wrongly." He stressed that all stakeholders are involved transparently at every stage of the electoral process, and raising doubts post-results without prior objections is undesirable.
Kumar also addressed the judiciary, suggesting that judicial proceedings challenging the electoral process be scheduled with due consideration to election timelines to ensure the smooth conduct of polls. He expressed concern that live reporting of hearings in long-pending cases at critical junctures sometimes fuels distrust, potentially undermining the electoral process.
Throughout his tenure, Kumar advocated for several electoral reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and inclusivity. He called for the implementation of technology solutions to enable domestic migrant and non-resident Indian voters to participate in elections, highlighting that nearly 300 million voters are left out of the process due to migration. The Commission explored the option of using a modified version of the EVM to facilitate voting at polling stations outside a voter's home constituency.
Kumar urged political parties to back their announcements of freebies with clear financial disclosures. He emphasised the need for responsible fiscal policies and transparency to ensure that such promises are sustainable and do not adversely impact the economy.