India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar urges simple, factual media communication

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed more than 350 media and communication officers from all 36 states and union territories at a one‑day conference in New Delhi. He urged that poll‑related communication be timely, simple, factual and legally accurate, noting that the recently concluded elections in four (or five) states and a union territory saw unprecedented public participation since independence. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi also spoke, emphasizing an impact‑focused approach rather than merely input, and highlighting the officers' role in conveying the Commission's rules, instructions and guidelines to the public.

The programme included sessions on communication strategies across the election cycle, the EC's digital platform ECINET, relevant constitutional provisions, recent Supreme Court orders, and practical tactics for planning press notes, amplifying them through media and social media, countering misinformation, and engaging young voters. Participants shared experiences from states that had recently voted and discussed best practices for reaching the electorate.