New Delhi, Nov 10 (NationPress) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, engaged with a delegation from the International Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance (IDEA) at the Election Commission’s headquarters in New Delhi. The delegation was led by Secretary General Kevin Casas Zamora, Chief of Staff Jessica Kehayes, and Secretary (West) Sibi George.

This meeting follows CEC Kumar's keynote address at the Stockholm International Conference on Electoral Integrity in June.

During the global forum organized by IDEA, CEC Kumar reaffirmed the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s commitment to conducting elections with integrity and fostering global capacity-building initiatives for Election Management Bodies (EMBs).

The conference saw participation from over 100 representatives of EMBs across nearly 50 nations.

“Conducting elections with the highest integrity reflects our national resolve,” he stated, emphasizing the ECI’s leadership in global electoral practices.

Highlighting the enormity of India's democratic endeavor, Kumar pointed out that elections in India are conducted under thorough scrutiny from political parties, candidates, observers, media, and law enforcement, ensuring a transparency comparable to concurrent audits at every level.

For general elections, the ECI mobilizes more than 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police, observers, and political agents, making it the world’s largest election management operation.

Tracing the evolution of India's electoral process, Kumar highlighted the Commission’s adaptability to increasing complexities while staying true to constitutional values.

“From 173 million voters in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and from merely 0.2 million polling stations in the early years to over 1.05 million today, India's electoral journey showcases unparalleled institutional foresight and scale,” he noted.

The upcoming 2024 General Elections will feature 743 political parties—including six national and 67 state parties—and over 20,000 candidates, facilitated by 6.2 million Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Additionally, Gyanesh Kumar recently received an unexpected call from Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of South Africa’s Electoral Commission, who extended good wishes for the Bihar elections—one of the largest democratic exercises globally, with nearly 75 million eligible voters.

Moepya mentioned that South African parliamentarians plan to visit India soon to examine the country’s electoral management system, which is often regarded as one of the most transparent and efficient globally.

This conversation occurred on the first day of the Bihar assembly elections.