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. The conference was held under the theme 'Connecting stakeholders, strengthening democracy: Role of media in elections' and aimed to promote an informed understanding of different aspects of electoral processes in India.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar addressed the participants, emphasizing that elections in India are conducted according to the Constitution of India, Electoral Laws, and instructions issued by the Election Commission from time to time. He highlighted that India's Electoral Rolls contain nearly 95 crore voters and described it as a living document that dynamically evolves with time. Kumar noted that over 12 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and over 15 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are actively involved in the electoral process as 'concurrent auditors,' providing statutory safeguards for roll preparation.
The CEC stated that the highest-ever poll participation in recent Assembly Elections demonstrates the trust Indian electors have in the country's electoral system and the vibrancy of Indian democracy. He expressed gratitude to all electors of India for their participation in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
The conference provided a comprehensive overview of transparency measures under the Constitution, Representation of the People Acts 1950 and 1951, and ECI instructions. Participants were briefed on the ECINET platform and the role of technology in elections, as well as important constitutional provisions and laws relating to media matters during elections. The program included detailed explanations of the roles and responsibilities of Booth Level Agents, Polling Agents, and Counting Agents in ensuring transparency and facilitating political party participation.
As part of the program, participants received hands-on demonstrations of Electoral Roll Preparation, Polling Process, and Counting Process in groups. These demonstrations allowed media professionals to experience various statutory forms that form the basis for concurrent audit by stakeholders. The sessions concluded with a Question and Answer (Q&A) session where participants could engage directly with CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar.
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