Election Commission meets political parties in Kochi ahead of Kerala Assembly Election 2026

Kochi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a crucial meeting with recognised national and state political parties in Kochi on Friday as part of preparations for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assured that the poll process would remain free, fair and transparent.

The meeting was attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with senior Commission officials, who interacted with representatives of major political parties to review election preparedness and address their concerns.

Political parties commend electoral roll revision

Officials said most political parties appreciated the ECI for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. Several parties also lauded the efforts of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who played a key role in updating voter lists.

Addressing the gathering, CEC Gyanesh Kumar reiterated that the revision of electoral rolls had been carried out transparently. He reminded parties that Forms 6, 7, and 8 could still be submitted for inclusion, deletion, or correction of entries, and that appeals regarding voter lists can be filed with the District Magistrate or Chief Electoral Officer, as provided under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Focus on free and fair elections

During discussions, political parties urged the Commission to take stringent measures to curb the use of money power, liquor distribution, and freebies during the election period. Some parties also suggested that local festivals and events in Kerala be considered while finalising the polling schedule.

Responding to these concerns, the CEC assured that elections would be conducted strictly in accordance with the law, while maintaining impartiality and transparency. He encouraged parties to use the CVIGIL feature of the ECINET platform to report any violations of the Model Code of Conduct during the election period.

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The Commission also confirmed that basic facilities such as ramps, wheelchairs, and drinking water will be provided at polling booths to ensure voter comfort and accessibility.

CEC’s visit includes an infrastructure review

Gyanesh Kumar, a former IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, also visited several landmark infrastructure projects in Kochi during his tenure in state administration. He urged all political parties to uphold a collective responsibility to ensure that Kerala’s elections remain a model of democratic practice not only for India but globally.

He further led the Voters’ Pledge for young voters near the Goshree Bridge, emphasising the importance of greater youth participation in democracy.

The EC team’s visit concludes on Saturday, and before departing, the Chief Election Commissioner will hold an interaction with the media.

IANS