CEC Gyanesh Kumar arrives in Kashmir to meet BLOs, review electoral process at grassroots level

Srinagar: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the electoral process at the grassroots level.

During the visit, he will participate in various programmes across the Valley aimed at engaging with voters, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Budgam district, and meet electoral stakeholders and assess the field-level election machinery. He will also review various electoral initiatives being undertaken at the grassroots level.

The CEC was warmly received upon his arrival at Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport by Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Verma; Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan; and other senior officers from the Administration and the Election Department.

The visit is part of the Election Commission of India’s continued efforts to strengthen engagement with voters and electoral stakeholders, enhance field-level preparedness, and further promote democratic participation and electoral awareness.

The objective of the visit is to gather on-ground feedback, encourage electoral awareness, and ensure transparency in election management.

Gyanesh Kumar took over as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on February 19, 2025. Before this, he had been serving as an Election Commissioner since March 15, 2024, before taking charge of the top position.

Rajiv Kumar was the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) when the full commission visited Jammu and Kashmir in August 2024 for the highly anticipated Assembly Elections.

The full commission, led by the then CEC Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, conducted a three-day review visit from August 8 to August 10, 2024, to assess election preparedness. The commission held comprehensive meetings with various stakeholders, including political party representatives and security officials, to ensure the smooth conduct of the democratic process.

The CEC heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections. An election commissioner is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a three-member selection committee headed by the Prime Minister and consisting of the Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet minister.