BE APPROACHABLE!! Election Commission Directs State Poll Officials to Engage with Political Parties
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday instructed its state-level poll machinery to conduct regular interactions with political parties.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday instructed its state-level poll machinery to conduct regular interactions with political parties and address grievances within the legal framework. The directive was issued during a conference of state electoral officers in New Delhi, the first such meeting since Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took office. The move comes amid allegations from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) about irregularities, including claims of identical voter ID numbers across states, raising concerns over electoral integrity.
Kumar, addressing the officials, emphasized transparency and accountability, urging them to adhere strictly to statutory obligations. He directed chief electoral officers (CEOs), district election officers (DEOs), returning officers (ROs), and electoral registration officers (EROs) to be well-versed in their roles as outlined in ECI guidelines and the law. “Be approachable and responsive to political parties,” Kumar said, stressing the importance of resolving issues through regular all-party meetings at statutory levels. He also mandated state officials to submit issue-wise action-taken reports by March 31.
The conference follows recent scrutiny of India’s electoral processes, with the TMC alleging voter list discrepancies—a claim echoing past criticisms of the ECI’s voter management systems. Independent reports, such as those from electoral watchdog groups, have previously highlighted duplication errors, though the ECI maintains these are isolated and swiftly rectified. Tuesday’s directive signals a proactive step to bolster trust ahead of upcoming elections, ensuring stakeholder concerns are addressed systematically while reinforcing the commission’s commitment to fair and transparent polls.
