The Southern California Connection To The Voter Tampering Exposé

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA- Thousands of miles from the offices of India’s Election Commission, a Southern California connection runs through the leadership and journalism behind a recent investigation that has put the country’s electoral process under renewed scrutiny.

The Indian Express investigation by journalist Ritika Chopra has brought world attention to the Election Commission of India, reporting that two election commissioners formally objected 14 times over a 10-month period regarding issues involving voter rolls and other systemic actions. The findings have fueled a wider debate over transparency, oversight and the functioning of the country’s election machinery.

Behind the newspaper carrying out that investigation are two senior figures with ties to the University of Southern California. Chief Editor Raj Kamal Jha and Indian Express Group Executive Director Anant Goenka are both USC alumni, with journalism playing a central role in their respective journeys. Goenka is also the grandson of Ramnath Goenka, the founder of The Indian Express.

Jha’s own path into journalism began with a very different academic background. After graduating from IIT Kharagpur, he came to USC for a master’s degree in print journalism. In Los Angeles, he explored American literature and volunteered with U.S. newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, as he moved from engineering toward journalism and writing.

He eventually became chief editor of The Indian Express and established a parallel career as a novelist. His debut novel won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

Goenka’s USC journey was more extensive. He first earned an undergraduate business degree from the USC Marshall School of Business and later returned to the university for a master’s in print journalism at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where he studied on a Dean’s scholarship.

His connection with USC has continued beyond his student years. Goenka has spoken about hosting USC delegations at The Indian Express offices and has highlighted the university’s efforts to expand opportunities and technology-related programs in India.

The relationship between the university and the newspaper has also run in the other direction. USC leaders have appeared on The Indian Express’ Idea Exchange forum, including former USC President Carol Folt and Interim President J. Chris Kim. Their discussions have ranged from campus diversity and the experiences of Indian students abroad to free speech and university rules.