Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 11: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reached out to all national and state political parties, inviting their suggestions to enhance electoral processes and address any unresolved concerns.

The ECI has set April 30 as the deadline for political parties to submit their inputs on pending issues at the levels of Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), District Election Officers (DEO), and Chief Electoral Officers (CEO). The move is aimed at refining electoral operations and ensuring greater transparency.

In an official statement, the Commission confirmed that individual letters have been dispatched to political parties, seeking their feedback. Additionally, the ECI has proposed direct consultations with party presidents and senior leaders at a mutually agreeable time to facilitate meaningful discussions.

This initiative follows a recent ECI conference, during which Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar instructed election officials—including CEOs, DEOs, and EROs across States and Union Territories—to engage regularly with political parties. He further directed that all concerns raised in these interactions be addressed within the framework of existing legal provisions. An action taken report on these matters is to be submitted by March 31.

The Election Commission emphasized that political parties should take advantage of this decentralized engagement mechanism to voice their concerns and provide constructive recommendations.

Political parties are among the 28 key stakeholders recognized under India's electoral system, which operates within a robust legal framework guided by:

• The Representation of the People Act, 1950 & 1951
• The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
• The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961
• Supreme Court rulings
• ECI-issued instructions, manuals, and handbooks, all available on its official website

Reaffirming its commitment to free and fair elections, the ECI urged all political parties to actively participate in the consultation process and contribute to refining India’s electoral framework.