New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday organised its first-ever All India Media Conference 2026, bringing together more than 380 media professionals from States and Union Territories under the theme, “Connecting Stakeholders, Strengthening Democracy: Role of Media in Elections.”
Addressing the conference, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that elections in India are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution of India, electoral laws, and the Election Commission’s guidelines. He emphasized that the country’s electoral process is continuously audited by various stakeholders, ensuring transparency and credibility.
The CEC described India’s Electoral Rolls, covering nearly 950 million voters, as a “living document” that is updated dynamically. He noted that more than 1.2 million Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and over 1.5 million Booth Level Agents (BLAs) actively participate in the preparation and verification of electoral rolls, serving as concurrent auditors of the process.
Highlighting the strength of India’s democracy, Gyanesh Kumar said the record voter turnout in the recent Assembly elections reflects the confidence of Indian voters in the electoral system. He also thanked citizens for their active participation in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The conference aimed to provide media professionals with a deeper understanding of India’s electoral system and the mechanisms that ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. Sessions covered constitutional provisions, the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, Election Commission guidelines, the ECINET digital platform, and the role of technology in election management.
Participants also received detailed briefings on the responsibilities of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), Polling Agents, and Counting Agents, highlighting their role in promoting transparency and facilitating political party participation throughout the election process.
As part of the programme, media representatives attended live demonstrations of electoral roll preparation, polling procedures, and vote counting, gaining hands-on experience with the statutory forms and procedures used during elections. The conference concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session between participants and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
