CEC Gyanesh Kumar meets envoys of Angola, Suriname to deepen global electoral cooperation
New Delhi, August 10
Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman of the Council of Member States of International IDEA, Gyanesh Kumar, held bilateral meetings on Monday at Nirvachan Sadan with the Ambassador of Angola to India, Clemente Camenha, and the Ambassador of Suriname to India, Hanisha Jairam.
The discussions focused on strengthening democratic cooperation and expanding mutual collaboration in election management and the training of electoral personnel, aligning with the vision established at the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026.
Taking to X, the Election Commission of India (ECI) highlighted the engagements, noting that both diplomatic missions reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with India on electoral training and administrative frameworks.
"Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman of the Council of Member States of International IDEA, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, today met His Excellency Mr Clemente Camenha, Ambassador of Angola to India, at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi."
The ECI added, "Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening democratic cooperation, in line with the vision set out at IICDEM 2026. They also agreed to work closely together to deepen collaboration on election management and the training of election staff."
In another post on X, the Election Commission of India said, "Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman of the Council of Member States of International IDEA, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, today met Her Excellency Ms Hanisha Jairam, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to India at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi."
The ECI added, "Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening democratic cooperation, in line with the vision set out at IICDEM 2026. They also agreed to work closely together to deepen collaboration on election management and the training of election staff."
The talks draw upon the momentum of the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, held earlier this year from January 21 to 23. During the conference's closing session, CEC Gyanesh Kumar read out the 'Delhi Declaration 2026', which was unanimously adopted by 42 global Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
The declaration outlines a collaborative roadmap structured around five key pillars: Purity of Electoral Rolls; Conduct of Elections; Research and Publications; Use of Technology and Training and Capacity Building.
Participating EMBs agreed to review their progress periodically and have proposed their next major gathering from December 3 to 5, 2026, at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
India assumed the prestigious role as chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026. The rotational chairship remains fixed until 2033, with India standing as one of the organisation's 14 founding member states.
Official statements from the ECI noted that Gyanesh Kumar formally assumed the chairship in Stockholm, Sweden, in the presence of India's Ambassador to Sweden, Anurag Bhushan. The ECI described the milestone as a reflection of global recognition for India's status as one of the world's most credible and innovative election management institutions.
"The Chairship marks a significant milestone, reflecting global recognition of the Election Commission of India as one of the world's most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies (EMBs). India, a founding member of International IDEA, has consistently contributed to the organisation's governance, democratic discourse and institutional initiatives," ECI said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I hope this isn't just about photo ops and press releases. What concrete outcomes will come from these meetings? We need to ensure that India's expertise actually helps these countries improve their electoral processes, not just add another achievement to the resume.
Interesting to see India taking a leadership role in global election management. The technical expertise India has developed through conducting elections at such massive scale is genuinely valuable for developing democracies. Good to see South-South cooperation working.
ECI has come a long way. Remember the days of ballot boxes and now we're teaching other countries about EVMs, VVPATs, and tech-driven elections. The fact that we chair International IDEA until 2033 shows the trust India has built globally. Well done, Team ECI!
Wait, they're talking about training election staff? India has had its own issues with election violence and voter suppression in some regions. Isn't it a bit premature to be exporting our model as a gold standard? Just saying we should also learn from others, not just teach.
Honestly, this is exactly what global leadership should look like. We're not just talking about democracy, we're actively helping other countries build their election infrastructure. The five pillars they mentioned - especially using technology and training - are areas where India genuinely excels. Kudos!
K Kavya N