Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. | Photo credit: ANI
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday (December 3, 2025) took over as the 2026 Chairman of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
In his acceptance speech in Stockholm, Sweden, Mr. Kumar highlighted the scale of India’s democratic exercise, noting that the country has more than 900 million voters in 28 states and eight union territories.
In the 2024 general elections, India witnessed a breathtaking democratic spectacle with over 20,000 candidates from 743 political parties, including six national and 67 state parties. Over 20 lakh election workers, including more than a lakh booth-level officers and five lakh polling staff, have participated in the exercise, he said.
Stating that the country has seen 18 general elections to parliament and more than 400 elections to state legislatures since independence in 1947, the CEC said India strives to share with all not only the knowledge of the world’s largest and most diverse and diverse modern democracy, but also the democratic values and principles deeply rooted in India’s cultural heritage.
India’s chairmanship of the International IDEA Council would be decisive, ambitious and action-oriented, he said. India will strive to ensure that every vote counts, every vote matters and that democracies around the world become more inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable.
The chairmanship represents a significant milestone that reflects the global recognition of the Election Commission (EC) of India as one of the most trusted and innovative election management bodies in the world, the EC said in an official statement.
India is a founding member of International IDEA.
As Chairman, Mr. Kumar will steer the work of the Council around the overall theme of the Indian Presidency, “Democracy for an Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient and Sustainable World”, focusing on two key pillars, namely Reshaping Democracy for the Future and Independent and Professional Electoral Governing Bodies for a Sustainable Democracy.
Indian Ambassador to Sweden Anurag Bhushan was present on the occasion.
CEC held a discussion with International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora.
Published – 03 Dec 2025 21:35 IST
