Gyanesh Kumar visits Lucknow to review 2027 UP election preparations

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar led an Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation on a two-day visit to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to review preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. The visit focused on strengthening electoral literacy and engaging young voters through the ELC 2.0 and ECINET initiatives.

During the visit, Kumar addressed students and teachers at his alma mater, Colvin Taluqdars’ College, emphasizing the importance of democratic values and responsible citizenship. He also attended a regional conference at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, which aims to enhance democratic awareness in educational institutions across the state.

Kumar addressed technical concerns regarding India’s electoral process, stating that electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and lack internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity. He further noted that the electoral process is conducted transparently under the concurrent audit of political parties and candidates. The delegation's itinerary also included direct interactions with approximately 500 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to gain insights into grassroots electoral machinery.