In a First, ECI Trains Booth Level Agents to Boost Grassroots Participation of Political Parties.
New Delhi:
In a pioneering move to enhance the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a dedicated training programme for Booth Level Agents (BLAs). The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots participation by political parties in election-related activities, with a special focus on Bihar, where elections are due soon.
The two-day training programme is being held at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi and has brought together approximately 280 BLAs from 10 recognised political parties in Bihar. This marks the first time the Commission has formally engaged with BLAs through an institutionalised training module.
Top ECI Leadership Addresses Participants
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, addressed the participants, underlining the pivotal role BLAs play in ensuring transparency and accuracy in the electoral process.
The training programme was conceptualised during the Chief Electoral Officers’ (CEO) conference held on March 4, 2025, where the need to empower BLAs through formal training was recognised as a critical step towards fair and participatory elections.
Empowering Agents with Legal and Procedural Knowledge
The BLAs were educated on their appointment process, roles, and responsibilities as prescribed under the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. Additionally, guidelines and instructions periodically issued by the ECI were covered.
A major focus of the training was to equip BLAs with knowledge related to the preparation, revision, and updation of electoral rolls—an area where their involvement can greatly reduce errors and ensure better representation. The training included practical sessions on filling forms and understanding various formats used in voter registration and roll updates.
Redressal Mechanisms and Legal Provisions
Participants were also informed about the legal recourse available to them, including the provision of first and second appeals under Sections 24(a) and 24(b) of the RP Act, 1950. This is particularly relevant if they are dissatisfied with the final publication of the electoral rolls, empowering them to seek corrections or raise objections through proper legal channels.
Strengthening Democratic Participation
BLAs, appointed by recognised political parties, serve as a crucial link between voters and the electoral machinery. By involving them more effectively in the pre-election processes, the ECI hopes to increase transparency, reduce errors in electoral rolls, and encourage a higher level of engagement from political parties at the grassroots level.
This first-of-its-kind training initiative reflects the Commission’s broader vision of deepening democratic processes by investing in capacity building at the most fundamental level of election operations.
