CEC Gyanesh Kumar Launches Nationwide Training Drive for Poll Staff
Booth-level officers, political party agents, and police among 28 stakeholder groups trained to streamline election process and reduce errors
It’s back to school for Booth Level Officers (BLOs), their supervisors, election staff, and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties. In a bid to make India’s election process more efficient, transparent, and controversy-free, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has launched a unique two-day training programme for key stakeholders involved in various stages of the electoral process.
What sets this initiative apart is the CEC himself leading from the front—delivering lectures, addressing questions, and guiding participants through relevant sections of election law.
To kick off the initiative, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has begun training 28 stakeholder groups ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for November 2025. The sessions focus on legal provisions, electoral roll revisions, election protocols, and grievance redressal mechanisms. For the first time, Bihar Police personnel are also being trained for enhanced coordination with the election machinery.
Stakeholders from other states going to polls in 2026—Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala—have also begun receiving training. According to ECI sources, with a packed electoral calendar next year, early preparation is key.
In addition to state-level sessions, pan-India meetings have been conducted with political parties. Over 28,000 representatives met with election officials from states and Union Territories. “The CEC is personally meeting representatives of national political parties to hear their concerns and suggestions,” an official said.
Since taking office three months ago, CEC Gyanesh Kumar has launched 18 initiatives, including this expansive training programme. “One of his key observations has been that many stakeholders are unaware of the relevant laws or how to apply them effectively—particularly regarding wrongful deletion or addition of names and EVM-related controversies,” said an official.
BLOs and BLAs were instructed on the correct procedures to avoid erroneous voter list entries. They were also informed that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) serves as the first appellate authority for grievances, with final appeals addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state or UT.
According to the ECI, 28 stakeholder categories have been identified in the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections—including voters, officials, political parties, candidates, and others—based on provisions of the Representation of the People Acts (1950 and 1951), the Registration of Electors Rules (1960), and the Conduct of Election Rules (1961), alongside ECI instructions.
Each trainee receives a kit containing 30 PowerPoint slides tailored to their role. Technical demonstrations of EVMs and VVPATs are also part of the programme, with mock drills to ensure hands-on learning. Those trained at Delhi’s India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) will serve as master trainers in their respective states.
“We got to learn the minute details of our work,” said Prem Shankar Kumar, a BLO from Bihar. “We were trained on how to correctly fill Forms 6, 7, and 8,” added Kumar Gaurav, another participant from the state.
