Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi hosted a crucial National Roundtable Conference on February 24, 2026, organized by the Election Commission of India with State Election Commissioners. Led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, the event saw robust participation from all states, UTs, their legal-technical teams, and Chief Electoral Officers.
Central to the deliberations was the imperative of pure electoral rolls, the unshakeable foundation of democracy. The CEC stressed that proficient, transparent election conduct is vital for a resilient democracy.
To foster national synergy, the ECI proposed deeper ties with state counterparts, focusing on collaborative frameworks for ECI-Net, EVMs, voter registries, and the premier Election Management Institute. Efforts to synchronize panchayat and municipal election laws with higher legislative standards were pledged, as was greater state engagement in international election observances.
Annual roundtables were mooted, preferably alongside ECI’s global initiatives. Comprehensive scrutiny of state suggestions by ECI’s joint expert teams will culminate in region-specific strategies submitted within three months, prioritizing public good.
By strengthening cooperative federalism, this conference advances a unified approach to election management. It heralds improved technological and legal coherence, fortifying the pillars of Indian democracy for generations to come.