The first phase of seven phase Lok Sabha elections opens today, with polling across 20 states and Union territories. If the elections can be likened to a Test match, then the Election Commission has the demanding but necessary task of being a tough and neutral umpire as only then can there be the kind of orderly and fair play that has kept the world's largest democracy humming. EC must act without fear or favour to ensure the sanctity of India’s general election isn't muddied by the polarising campaigning that precedes it. By staying the release of a new Hindi film titled 'PM Narendra Modi' which falls into the category of political advertising, EC has unsheathed the vast powers it enjoys. EC has a towering reputation assiduously built since 1950 of conducting elections in a free and fair manner. Dozens of election commissioners have come and gone but the institution's integrity has survived making it the guarantor and even a founding pillar of Indian democracy. Former CEC TN Seshan is fondly remembered, even two decades later, for reading the riot act to politicians. There are some grievances of the current EC acting too slowly, which need to be addressed. For instance, in the runup to elections, income tax department has raided various opposition parties across states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh but no party in the ruling NDA has faced a raid. This does raise doubts of the agency doing the government's bidding and gaming the system for the ruling party, when it is India's worst kept secret that unaccounted money flows freely across the political spectrum. In contrast, EC's own seizures amounting to Rs 473 crore in cash and Rs 410 crore in gold have targeted all sides. Given this record EC should monitor the I-T department's functioning for the poll period. EC must also make some tough calls on policing politicians. For instance, it has expressly forbidden political parties to use the armed forces in their political campaigns, yet this is routinely and flagrantly violated. EC derives considerable powers of superintendence and conduct of elections from Constitution's Article 324-it must exercise those powers to their fullest extent. Violations are flowing thick and fast-the strange appearance of NaMo TV on DTH platforms is another instance. But Wednesday's ban order may be a sign that EC's long rope has reached the end of its tether.