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Major parties, including the Congress, AAP, and TMC, continue to allege bias and claim that elections are not conducted fairly
Of the six national parties, five have met with the commission. File pic/PTI
In the thick of mounting allegations of poll mismanagement from major opposition parties, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a novel effort to rebuild trust among them. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who took office in February, is leading this campaign to restore confidence in the commission. Kumar has decided to meet with political parties individually to directly address their concerns.
The goal of this approach is to facilitate open and productive conversations, allowing party leaders to share their suggestions and grievances. “All political parties are key stakeholders in the electoral process. Their trust in the commission is crucial for ensuring free and fair elections,” an ECI official stated.
The initiative began this month, kicking off through a meeting with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on May 6, led by its president, Mayawati. Although the BSP fielded the most candidates among national parties in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it did not secure any seats.
Subsequently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met with the commission on May 8, represented by its national president, Jagat Prakash Nadda. Meetings followed with CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby on May 10, National People’s Party president Conrad Sangma on May 13, and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on May 15.
Of the six national parties, five have met with the commission. The Congress is the only party yet to schedule a meeting. These meetings will continue based on necessity and availability, said sources.
“This is the first time the ECI has adopted such a tradition. Previously, meetings occurred only when necessary or upon request and were not aimed at fostering mutual understanding,” an ECI official told News18.
Despite these efforts, major parties, including the Congress, AAP, and Trinamool Congress, continue to allege bias and claim that elections are not conducted fairly. In March, the TMC accused the ECI of enabling voter fraud in West Bengal, stating that non-residents were brought in to vote with identical Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. AAP also raised concerns about voter list manipulation in this year’s Delhi assembly polls. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that 70 lakh voters were added to the electoral rolls in Maharashtra in under six months. The ECI clarified that only 22 lakh new entries were made.
Opposition parties have consistently raised issues about voting, vote counting, and updating and deleting in voter lists. The commission has responded by asserting that the rules are the same for all parties. “Outcomes may not align with a party’s expectations, but that doesn’t mean the commission is favouring anyone. Only one candidate can win per seat, and this is determined by the people’s choice,” the official explained.
To build trust, the commission is also engaging with political parties at various administrative levels. Nationwide, over 4,700 all-party meetings have been conducted—40 by Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), 800 by District Election Officers (DEOs), and 3,879 by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), involving more than 28,000 party representatives.
“This decentralised approach helps address local issues efficiently. For example, a voter list concern in a specific constituency is best handled first by the ERO, then by the DEO, and finally by the CEO if needed,” the official added.
The commission aims to establish a system of regular meetings between ECI officials and party representatives, ensuring elections are free and fair and maintaining public trust.
Additionally, the commission has made changes based on party feedback. One major issue was EPIC duplication, which the ECI resolved by issuing new identity cards to affected voters. The problem stemmed from changes following the 2008 delimitation, as some areas continued using outdated series or made typographical errors.
This trust-building initiative comes at a critical time, with the next major election in Bihar scheduled for November. Whether this effort will significantly change perceptions remains to be seen, but it marks a key step towards greater transparency and accountability by the poll body.
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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