Latest news with #StockholmInternationalConferenceonElectoralIntegrity
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Most transparent: Poll body chief defends electoral rolls prep amid rigging claim
The preparation of voters' lists in India is one of the world's most rigorous and transparent processes, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar told an international conference in Sweden amid allegations of poll rigging and fudging in voter his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity on Tuesday, Kumar said that the voter list in India is revised every year and during the process, each addition and elimination is shared in detail with the recognised national and state parties in adherence to the CEC said the electoral rolls have been shared with political parties since 1960 with provision for objections, appeals and claims. His remarks came soon after allegations by Opposition parties claiming fudging of voter data. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently alleged poll rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. The poll body has dismissed the charges and called them absurd. Kumar asserted the role of the Election Commission in capacity-building schemes for election management bodies, and also stressed India's electoral integrity, diversity and scale. In his address to more than 50 global election management bodies, the CEC talked about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying 743 political parties participated, including six national also highlighted that with more than 200 million personnel, including police forces, polling staff, political party agents and observers involved in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission became the world's largest organisation. He said that with a cumulative workforce of many national governments and global corporations, India's electors are freely able to exercise their Watch
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Electoral rolls prep in India among most transparent in the world: CEC days after Rahul Gandhi's ‘match-fixing' charges
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said before an international audience that the preparation of electoral rolls in India is one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises amid allegations of fudging in voter data. Kumar said in his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity on 11 June that electoral rolls are shared with recognised national and state parties in accordance with law every year during revision and before the elections. These are CEC's first remarks since Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's recent allegations of irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly elections. In an article in The Indian Express last week, Gandhi had reiterated allegations he has made in the past. Flagging an 'incredible leap' in new voters, he had alleged 'bogus' voting and 'match-fixing' in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The poll authority has dubbed these charges as absurd. In his 11 June address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the rolls have been shared with recognised political parties since 1960, with the provision of claims, objections, and appeals. He said the preparation of the voters' list is one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process. According to the Election Commission's statement, the CEC said that this robust mechanism has played a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country for years. Highlighting India's electoral integrity, scale and diversity, Kumar reaffirmed the role of the Election Commission in capacity-building programmes for election management bodies (EMBs) of countries around the globe. Over 100 participants representing EMBs of around 50 countries are taking part in the conference. He said the entire electoral process is closely monitored by political parties, candidates, police, expenditure observers, and the media, who, he stated, act as concurrent auditors at various stages. The CEC also highlighted the scale of coordination that underpins the conduct of elections in India. The preparation of the voters' list is one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises. With over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police forces, observers, and agents of political parties, at the time of elections, the Election Commission becomes the world's largest organisation, surpassing the combined workforce of several national governments and major global corporations. It also ensures that India's nearly one billion electors are freely able to exercise their franchise, he said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Gyanesh Kumar's first speech since accusation
Speaking for the first time since Congress leaders accused the Election Commission of rigging the 2024 Maharashtra polls and manipulating electoral rolls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar defended the process, calling it one of the world's most transparent democratic exercises. Delivering a keynote at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Sweden on Tuesday evening, Kumar said India's electoral exercise-- including the annual revision of rolls--is conducted under intense public and institutional scrutiny, describing it as 'an act akin to concurrent auditing at every stage.' The event, hosted by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), was attended by over 100 participants from election management bodies representing nearly 50 countries. Kumar highlighted the 'robust mechanisms' underpinning India's electoral process, which he said have ensured its credibility for decades. 'There is a process of statutory sharing of India's electoral roll with all recognised political parties every year during revision and before every election since 1960. It includes provisions for claims, objections, and appeals — making it one of the most rigorous and transparent electoral exercises globally,' said Kumar, as quoted in an ECI press release. 'This mechanism plays a vital role in reinforcing electoral credibility year after year.' He also reaffirmed the Election Commission's role in supporting capacity-building initiatives for election management bodies worldwide. Kumar described India's democracy as the 'strongest and biggest in the world,' calling Indian elections 'a wonder' for their unmatched diversity and scale. Back home, however, the Election Commission faces mounting criticism from the Congress party. The Opposition has questioned the sharp increase in voter turnout on November 20, 2024, as well as a sudden spike in the number of electors in Maharashtra. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in a recent op-ed, accused the ECI of enabling 'industrial-scale rigging' and described the Maharashtra elections as a 'blueprint for rigging democracy.' While the Commission dismissed the allegations as misinformation, neither the ECI nor the CEC had issued an official response until now. In his Sweden address, Kumar also elaborated on the logistical scale of elections in India. According to the ECI, over 20 million personnel--including polling staff, police forces, observers, and party agents--were involved in conducting the recent parliamentary elections. 'At the time of elections, the ECI becomes the world's largest organisation, surpassing the workforce of many national governments and global corporations. It ensures that nearly one billion Indian electors are able to exercise their franchise freely,' said the ECI press note quoting Kumar. He also traced the evolution of India's electoral system, from 173 million electors in 1951–52 to 979 million in 2024, and from just 200,000 polling stations in the early years to more than 1.05 million today. 'The 2024 general elections saw the participation of 743 political parties-- including six national and 67 state parties--and 20,271 candidates. Elections were conducted across the country using 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines reaffirming the Commission's ability to conduct inclusive, efficient, and secure elections,' the release added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India's voter list process most rigorous & transparent: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar defended India's electoral roll process amidst Congress allegations, emphasizing its rigor and transparency. He highlighted the statutory sharing of electoral rolls with political parties since 1960, enabling claims, objections, and appeals. Kumar also noted the extensive oversight during Lok Sabha polls by parties, candidates, observers, and the media. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads ( Originally published on Jun 11, 2025 ) Amid the latest Congress allegations over the sanctity of electoral rolls, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar asserted on Tuesday that India's process on drawing up electors' rolls were "one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises", involving active participation and data sharing with all political CEC underscored the "statutory sharing of India's electoral rolls with all recognised political parties every year during revision as well as before the elections since 1960 till today, with provision of claims, objections and appeals" developing "one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process".In his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity, he said this "robust mechanism plays a vital role" in "upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year".The CEC also drew attention to the massive scale of the election exercise undertaken by the ECI and how the same, especially in case of the Lok Sabha polls, is done under the 'close watch' of the political parties, candidates, police and expenditure observers and the media who are akin to 'concurrent auditors' at various stages.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
CEC Gyanesh Kumar delivers keynote address at Stockholm International Conference, highlights India's electoral dignity
Stockholm [Sweden], June 11 (ANI): Highlighting India's electoral integrity, scale and diversity, Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, while delivering his keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in Sweden last evening, reaffirmed the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in capacity building programmes for Election Management Bodies (EMB) of countries around the globe. 'Conducting elections with utmost integrity is a testament to our national resolve,' he emphasised. Over 100 participants representing Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of around 50 countries are taking part in the Conference, which is being organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), according to a release from the Election Commission. Gyanesh Kumar also informed the participants about the massive scale of the election exercise that is undertaken by the ECI, especially during the parliamentary elections, which is done under the close watch of the political parties; candidates; general, police and expenditure observers and the media who, he stated, act akin to concurrent auditors at various stages. The CEC also highlighted the scale of coordination that underpins the conduct of elections in India. With over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police forces, observers, and agents of political parties at the time of conduct of elections, ECI becomes the world's largest organisation, surpassing the combined workforce of several national governments and major global corporations and ensures that India's nearly one billion electors are freely able to exercise their franchise, the release added. Further, speaking at this global platform, Gyanesh Kumar traced the evolution of Indian elections over the decades, noting how the system has adapted to increasing complexity while staying rooted in constitutional values. From 173 million electors in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and from just 0.2 million polling stations in the early years to over 1.05 million today, India's electoral journey has demonstrated both institutional foresight and unmatched scale. He noted that the 2024 General Elections saw the participation of 743 political parties, which comprised six national parties, 67 state parties and the other registered political parties. A total of 20,271 candidates contested elections conducted across the length and breadth of the country using 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), reaffirming the Commission's capability to conduct elections that are inclusive, efficient, and secure, the release added. Gyanesh Kumar underscored the statutory sharing of India's Electoral Roll with all recognized political parties every year during revision as well as before the elections since 1960 till today, with provision of claims, objections and appeals, as one of the world's most rigorous and transparent exercises, reinforcing the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process. He noted that this robust mechanism plays a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year. Reflecting on the inclusive design of Indian elections, he stated that the electoral process serves first-time voters, senior citizens aged 85+, persons with special abilities, third-gender electors, and voters in the most inaccessible regions with equal care and commitment. From polling booths with a single elector to highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh, India's commitment to leaving no voter behind was reiterated as a constitutional principle rather than a logistical challenge. On the sidelines of the conference, Gyanesh Kumar held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mexico, Indonesia, Mongolia, South Africa, Switzerland, Moldova, Lithuania, Mauritius, Germany, Croatia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. These engagements focused on voter participation, electoral technology, diaspora voting, and institutional capacity-building, the release added. (ANI)
