New Delhi / Patna: Amid the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar received an unexpected international call — from South African Election Commission Chairperson Mosotho Moepia.
The South African poll chief extended his best wishes to India for conducting one of the world’s largest democratic exercises and informed that a delegation of South African MPs will soon visit India to study the country’s robust and transparent electoral process.
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Voting Underway in 121 Seats
Voting for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is currently underway across 121 constituencies spread over 18 districts. Approximately 7.5 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the multi-phase polls.
Among the high-profile constituencies are –
- Raghopur, where Tejashwi Yadav of RJD is contesting,
- Mahua, represented by Tej Pratap Yadav,
- Tarapur, where Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary is in the fray.
Other key seats drawing attention include Alinagar (BJP’s singer-candidate Maithili Thakur), Lakhisarai (Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha), Mokama (JDU’s Anant Singh), and Raghunathpur, where RJD’s Osama Shahab, son of the late strongman Shahabuddin, is contesting.
CEC’s Global Recognition for India’s Electoral Model
CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s conversation with his South African counterpart highlights India’s growing global influence in election management and democratic practices. The South African side expressed keen interest in learning from India’s Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) system, live webcasting of polling booths, and real-time monitoring mechanisms.
According to Election Commission officials, over 30 million voters are casting their votes in this phase — including 19.8 million men, 17.6 million women, and third-gender voters.
The Commission has deployed tight security arrangements, installed cameras at every polling booth, and ensured live monitoring through webcasting to maintain transparency and prevent any malpractice.
India’s Poll Diplomacy: A Model for the World
The exchange between the two election chiefs underscores India’s leadership in electoral diplomacy — where the Election Commission of India (ECI) regularly collaborates with and trains election officials from other countries through capacity-building programs under International Cooperation initiatives.
In recent years, delegations from countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius have visited the ECI to study India’s polling systems and best practices.
