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South Africa's Election Chief Praises India's Massive Bihar Poll Process

South Africa's election body chief surprised CEC Gyanesh Kumar with a call praising India's electoral management. The conversation happened during Bihar's massive assembly elections involving 75 million voters. International delegates from six countries are currently observing India's election process through the IEVP program. The ECI has implemented extensive security and special polling stations for transparent voting.

Key Points: South Africa Poll Body Chief Lauds CEC Gyanesh Kumar Elections

  • South Africa's electoral chief calls CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid Bihar's first phase voting
  • International delegates from six countries observing India's election process
  • Bihar elections feature 75 million voters across multiple phases
  • ECI establishes 320 model booths and 926 women-managed polling stations
2 min read

South Africa poll body chief lauds CEC Gyanesh Kumar for India's election process

South Africa's electoral commission chair praises India's election management as Bihar conducts massive assembly polls with 75 million voters and international observers.

"South African parliamentarians are planning to visit India soon to study the country's electoral management system - Mosotho Moepya"

New Delhi, Nov 6

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday received a surprise call from Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of South Africa's Electoral Commission, who extended best wishes for the conduct of the Bihar elections, one of the largest democratic exercises in the world, with nearly 75 million eligible voters.

Moepya said that South African parliamentarians are planning to visit India soon to study the country's electoral management system, often hailed as one of the most transparent and efficient globally.

This call comes on the day when Bihar is witnessing the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections.

In the first phase, a total of 3.75 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of 1,314 candidates, including top leaders such as INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of the BJP.

The second phase of Bihar assembly elections will be conducted on Novermber 11.

To ensure, free, fair, inclusive and transparent elections, the ECI has designated 320 model booths, 926 women-managed stations, and 107 managed by persons with disabilities.

Tight security arrangements are in place to ensure smooth polling.

Over 15 battalions of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across the 18 districts, with special attention to sensitive and Naxal-affected areas where voting will conclude an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. Mock polling exercises were conducted early in the morning to verify systems before the start of voting.

Notably, the ECI today welcomed 16 delegates from six countries under its International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP).

The initiative, aimed at fostering global cooperation and transparency in electoral processes, saw participants from Colombia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Belgium, and South Africa witnessing the on-ground arrangements of one of the world's largest democratic exercises.

According to the ECI , the IEVP 2025 began earlier this week at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi on November 4.

The inaugural session was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi, who interacted with the visiting delegates and briefed them on India's robust electoral framework.

During the Delhi leg, participants were given a detailed presentation on the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), voter roll management, and logistical preparedness.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Managing 75 million voters in Bihar alone is no small feat! The security arrangements and special booths for women and PWDs show our commitment to inclusive democracy. Kudos to the election officials working tirelessly.
D
David E
As someone who has observed elections globally, I must say India's electoral management is impressive. The scale is massive yet they maintain transparency. The international visitors program is a great initiative for knowledge sharing.
A
Arjun K
While I appreciate the international recognition, I hope the ECI also focuses on reducing money power and muscle power in elections. The process is good but ground realities in some constituencies need improvement.
S
Sarah B
The women-managed polling stations and facilities for persons with disabilities are commendable! This is how democracy should work - inclusive and accessible to all. More countries should adopt such practices.
V
Vikram M
Bihar elections are always challenging given the size and security concerns. Deploying 15 battalions and special arrangements for Naxal-affected areas shows proper planning. Hope the voting remains peaceful throughout.

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