The Election Commission (EC) on Friday held a key meeting with recognised national and state political parties in Kochi as part of preparations for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assured party representatives that the electoral process would remain free, fair and transparent, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to impartiality.

The meeting was attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with senior EC officials. They engaged with party representatives to review poll preparedness and address concerns. Officials said most parties appreciated the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Kerala and commended the efforts of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in updating voter lists.

Kumar emphasised that the revision of electoral rolls had been carried out transparently. He reminded voters that Forms 6, 7 and 8 could still be submitted for inclusion, deletion, or correction of entries, and appeals regarding the voter list could be filed before the District Magistrate or Chief Electoral Officer under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

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Several parties raised concerns over the potential misuse of money, liquor distribution, and freebies during elections, and suggested taking local festivals and events into account while finalising the polling schedule. Responding to these concerns, the Chief Election Commissioner assured that elections would be conducted strictly in accordance with the law and encouraged parties to use the cVIGIL component of the ECINET platform to report any violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

The EC also highlighted measures to improve voter accessibility and comfort, including ramps, wheelchairs, and drinking water at polling booths. Kumar, a former IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, also used the visit to inspect several landmark infrastructure projects in Kochi with which he had been associated during his tenure.

Calling for collective responsibility, Kumar urged political parties to help ensure that Kerala’s elections remain a model for the country and the world. The EC team’s visit will conclude on Saturday, ahead of which the Chief Election Commissioner will interact with the media.

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