Guwahati, February 17 – Ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, held detailed consultations with recognized national and state political parties in Guwahati on Tuesday.
The meeting was also attended by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam and senior officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The consultations are part of the Commission’s preparatory exercise to ensure the free, fair, and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Representatives from several recognized political parties participated in the discussions.
The national parties present at the meeting included the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], and the Indian National Congress.
Among the state parties, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) attended the discussions.
During the meeting, a majority of the political parties called for the Assam Assembly elections to be conducted in a single phase or, at most, in two phases, citing administrative convenience and voter participation.
Several parties also urged the Commission to schedule the election dates, taking into account the celebration of the Bihu festival, which holds significant cultural importance in the state.
The political parties generally appreciated the Special Revision of the Electoral Rolls in Assam and acknowledged the efforts made by the Election Commission to strengthen the electoral process.
They also shared suggestions and concerns related to polling arrangements, law and order, deployment of security forces, and other measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful and transparent election.
The Election Commission assured all stakeholders that their suggestions would be carefully examined.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting elections in a free, fair, inclusive, and violence-free manner, while strictly adhering to constitutional principles and the Model Code of Conduct.
The Assam Assembly elections are scheduled for 2026, and the Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule in the coming weeks.