CEC: Elections in India conducted strictly as per Constitution and Law

DR DULAL

NEW DELHI,: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Gyanesh Kumar on Friday asserted that elections in India are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, election laws and the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Addressing the All India Media Conference 2026 at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), Dwarka, the CEC said the country’s electoral process is guided by constitutional provisions and a well-defined legal framework to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Organised by the Election Commission of India under the theme “Connecting Stakeholders, Strengthening Democracy: Role of Media in Elections,” the conference brought together media professionals from across the country to enhance their understanding of the electoral process.

Representing Sikkim, journalists from the State, along with one official from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim, participated in the conference alongside delegates from across India.

Director General of IIIDEM, Rakesh Kumar Verma, highlighted the importance of continuous institutional learning, professional capacity building and constructive engagement between election authorities and the media to strengthen transparent and credible electoral processes.

Director General (Media) Ashish Goyal described the media as a vital stakeholder of the Election Commission and stressed the importance of factual reporting and timely dissemination of verified information to counter misinformation and reinforce public confidence in elections.

Director General (IT) Dr. Seema Khanna introduced participants to the ECINet platform, explaining how technology is transforming election management through integrated digital systems, real-time monitoring, improved service delivery and greater transparency.

DDG (Law) Vijay Kumar Pandey presented an overview of key constitutional provisions, electoral laws and recent judicial judgments governing the conduct of elections.

Deputy Director Apurva Kumar Singh explained the process of electoral roll preparation, polling and counting, highlighting the role of Booth Level Agents, Polling Agents and Counting Agents in ensuring transparency throughout the election cycle.

The programme also featured presentations on election laws, electoral rolls, polling procedures, counting of votes and the use of technology in elections. Participants witnessed live demonstrations of electoral procedures and interacted with Election Commission officials during question-and-answer sessions.

The conference aimed to strengthen collaboration between the Election Commission and the media while promoting greater awareness of free, fair and transparent elections.

IIIDEM is the training and research institute of the Election Commission of India and conducts training, capacity-building, research and international programmes on democracy and election management for election officials from India and abroad.