CEC Gyanesh Kumar takes over as chair of International IDEA, pledges ‘decisive and action-oriented’ leadership
New Delhi – 3 Dec (LatestNewsX) – Gyanesh Kumar, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, officially took on the Chairmanship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) Council of Member States for 2026. His appointment is a strong vote of confidence in India’s reputation as one of the world’s most seasoned election‑management powers.
The hand‑over ceremony was held in Stockholm, where the CEC was welcomed by India’s Ambassador to Sweden, Anurag Bhushan. He then met with International IDEA Secretary‑General Dr. Kevin Casas‑Zamora to discuss the organisation’s next steps.
During his acceptance address, the CEC highlighted the sheer magnitude of India’s democratic exercise. With over 900 million registered voters spread across 28 states and eight Union Territories, the country’s 2024 General Election drew more than 20,000 candidates from 743 parties—including six national and 67 state parties. The electoral drive involved more than 20 million workers: one million Booth Level Officers and five million polling staff.
The CEC reflected on India’s electoral history, noting that since 1947 the nation has held 18 parliamentary General Elections and over 400 state legislative elections. He stressed that India is eager to share its experiences and democratic ethos, rooted in the country’s rich civilisational heritage, with the rest of the world.
Looking ahead, the Chairmanship will be “decisive, ambitious and action‑oriented,” and the overarching theme will be “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.” India plans to focus on two key pillars: “Reimagining Democracy for the Future” and “Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy.”
For 2026, Mauritius and Mexico will serve as Vice‑Chairs of the International IDEA Council.
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