The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized the first All India Media Conference 2026, bringing together over 380 media professionals from States and Union Territories across the country under the theme “Connecting Stakeholders, Strengthening Democracy: Role of Media in Elections” at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), Delhi on July 17.
Addressing the participants, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar emphasized that elections in India are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution of India, the Representation of the People Acts, and the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India from time to time. He noted that the entire electoral process is subject to concurrent audit by various stakeholders involved in the conduct of elections.
The CEC stated that India’s Electoral Rolls, covering nearly 95 crore electors, are a dynamic and continuously evolving document. Highlighting the statutory safeguards governing the preparation of Electoral Rolls, he said that more than 12 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and over 15 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) actively participate in the process as “concurrent auditors,” ensuring transparency and accuracy.
Gyanesh Kumar further observed that the highest-ever voter turnout recorded in the recent Assembly Elections reflects the strong trust of Indian electors in the country’s electoral system and the vibrancy of Indian democracy. He also expressed gratitude to all electors for their active participation in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The conference was organised to promote a better understanding of various aspects of the electoral process and to highlight how elections in India are conducted with the highest standards of transparency through the active involvement of political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders.
The programme featured presentations on transparency measures enshrined in the Constitution, the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951, and the instructions issued by the ECI. Participants were also introduced to the ECINET platform, the role of technology in elections, and key constitutional and legal provisions relating to media during elections.
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Media professionals were briefed on the roles and responsibilities of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), Polling Agents, and Counting Agents, with emphasis on their contribution to transparency, political party participation, and the integrity of the electoral process.
As part of the conference, participants attended practical demonstrations on Electoral Roll Preparation, Polling Process, and Counting Process. Conducted in groups, these sessions provided hands-on exposure to the statutory forms and procedures that form the basis of concurrent audit by various stakeholders throughout the election process.
The conference concluded with an interactive Question and Answer (Q&A) session between the participants and Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar. A nine-member delegation from Nagaland participated in the conference. The delegation included officials from the Chief Electoral Officer’s Office, Nagaland, All India Radio Kohima, Doordarshan Kendra Kohima, the Department of Information & Public Relations, Nagaland and representatives of private media organizations.
