AnyTime News 
Any Time News Network | Pooja Srivastava
In a significant move aimed at reinforcing India’s democratic framework, the Election Commission of India (ECI) concluded its National Round Table Conference with State Election Commissioners at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on February 24, 2026.
After a gap of 27 years, representatives from 30 State Election Commissions participated in the high-level deliberations chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi were also present, underscoring the importance of institutional coordination.
The conference adopted the “National Declaration 2026,” reaffirming that accurate electoral rolls and transparent election management remain the cornerstone of democracy. The ECI proposed developing mutually acceptable and legally viable mechanisms to harmonize election processes across parliamentary, assembly, municipal, and panchayat levels.
Key focus areas included integration through ECINET, streamlined use of EVMs, and sharing of best practices in voter list management. Importantly, the ECI also invited State Commissions to leverage the world-class training infrastructure at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) to enhance capacity building.
A joint team of legal and technical experts will now examine suggestions received during the conference. State and Union Territory-wise action plans are expected within three months, signaling a time-bound roadmap for reform.
With consensus to hold such conferences annually, the initiative marks a decisive step toward strengthening national and constitutional interests through cooperative federalism in electoral governance.
