The Election Commission convened a significant meeting with recognized national and state political parties in Kochi to prepare for the upcoming elections in Kerala. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assured that the electoral process would uphold principles of freedom, fairness, and transparency. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, accompanied by Commission officials, engaged with party representatives to assess election readiness and address their issues.
Most political parties acknowledged the Election Commission’s efforts in conducting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Kerala smoothly and peacefully. They also praised the contributions of Booth Level Officers in updating voter lists. Chief Election Commissioner emphasized the transparent nature of the electoral roll revision and highlighted the ongoing acceptance of Forms 6, 7, and 8 for voter list modifications.
Political parties raised concerns about the influence of money, distribution of liquor, and freebies during elections, urging the Commission to take strict measures. Some parties proposed considering local festivals and events in Kerala while finalizing the polling schedule. In response, the Chief Election Commissioner assured parties of conducting elections in compliance with the law, emphasizing impartiality and transparency. He encouraged parties to utilize the cVIGIL feature on the Commission’s ECINET platform to report Model Code of Conduct violations.
The Election Commission reiterated its commitment to providing essential amenities like ramps, wheelchairs, and drinking water at polling stations to enhance voter convenience and accessibility. Gyanesh Kumar, a former IAS officer, visited key infrastructure projects in Kochi during his tenure in the state administration. He stressed the collective responsibility of all political parties in maintaining Kerala’s electoral standards as a global model.
