New Delhi, May 22, 2025: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a two-day training programme for Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, aiming to bolster grassroots democratic engagement ahead of the upcoming elections. The training, being conducted at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi, brings together 229 BLAs (BLA-I & BLA-II) from 11 national and state political parties.
The sessions are being held bilingually in English and Tamil to ensure effective communication and inclusivity. This is the second such training programme for BLAs at IIIDEM this year, with the first having been conducted for Bihar on April 16-17, 2025.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the training and addressed the participants, emphasizing the vital role of BLAs in the electoral process. He stated that the training would equip them to better discharge their duties as outlined in the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, along with relevant ECI guidelines and instructions.
During the training, participants engaged in interactive sessions covering the appointment procedures, legal responsibilities, and significance of maintaining accurate electoral rolls. They were also guided on the provisions of first and second appeals under Sections 24(a) and 24(b) of the RP Act, 1950, for raising grievances regarding the published electoral rolls.
The initiative is part of ECI’s broader strategy to foster transparent and participatory electoral practices. The Commission has intensified its outreach by engaging directly with political parties at various levels. To date, 4,719 all-party meetings have been held, including 40 by Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), 800 by District Election Officers (DEOs), and 3,879 by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), reaching over 28,000 political party representatives.
Through such targeted interventions, the ECI aims to ensure robust and inclusive voter participation rooted in legal awareness and grassroots empowerment.
