CEC urges officials to engage with parties, seeks report by month-end

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday directed all the election officials to be "approachable and responsive to political parties" and hold regular all-party meetings to resolve any issues raised within the existing statutory framework.

Addressing a two-day conference of CEOs of all states/UTs in New Delhi, the CEC further sought an issue-wise action taken report by each CEO to be submitted by March 31, 2025, to their concerned Deputy Election Commissioner.

The CEC's directions come amid questions raised by several political parties, specifically the Trinamool Congress, alleging allocation of duplicate EPIC/voter ID numbers to several voters in different states. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has maintained that the duplication does not imply fake voters and has said it will ensure allocation of unique EPIC numbers to registered voters.


Kumar further emphasised that all booth level officers (BLOs) be trained to be courteous with electors while also ensuring that no electoral staff or officer is "intimidated by anyone using false claims".

He also underlined in his address that all officials including CEOs, DEOs, EROs, BLOs across the country must work transparently and fulfill all statutory obligations diligently and as per the existing legal framework i.e., the RP Act 1950 & 1951; Registration of Elector Rules, 1960; Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and the instructions issued by ECI from time to time.

The CEC also said extra effort must be made to register all those above 18 years of age as electors and make efforts to have 800-1,200 electors in each polling booth so that it is within 2 kms distance from the residence of each elector.