New Delhi, August 12(HS): In a bid to fortify India’s democratic framework through inclusive dialogue, the Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted a high-powered interaction with a delegation from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today at Nirvachan Sadan, the Commission’s headquarters in the capital.

The NCP team, led by Brijmohan Shrivastav, National General Secretary and Authorised Representative, presented their suggestions and views to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.

This meeting forms a crucial part of the ECI’s ongoing national consultation exercise, which has brought together leaders of both National and State-recognised political parties on one platform for frank, constructive, and solution-oriented discussions. The initiative reflects the Commission’s determination to strengthen electoral integrity within the limits of existing laws while incorporating ground-level party feedback.

A Mega Outreach Drive

Over the past 150 days, the ECI has undertaken an unprecedented wave of political engagement — 4,719 all-party meetings were convened across the country, involving more than 28,000 party representatives. These interactions were held at multiple levels: 40 by Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), 800 by District Electoral Officers (DEOs), and a staggering 3,879 by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

Inclusive Political Dialogue

The current engagement series has already included influential interactions with major political players — from Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati, BJP’s J.P. Nadda, and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal to leaders of regional heavyweights like the All India Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and many others.

Today’s meeting with the NCP underscores the Commission’s conviction that a transparent, participatory election process is the bedrock of India’s democracy. By fostering an open channel of communication with political stakeholders nationwide, the ECI aims to ensure that every legislative contest is free, fair, and reflective of the people’s will.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar