Budgam, June 29 (IANS) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday interacted with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, hailing them as the backbone of democracy and encouraging voters to continue taking part in democratic processes.

The CEC appreciated the dedication and hard work of BLOs and said: “BLOs truly are the backbone of our electoral process.”

CEC Gyanesh Kumar is on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir to gather on-the-ground feedback, encourage electoral awareness and ensure transparency in election management.

Talking to media persons on Monday, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said, “I wish to call upon J&K voters to participate in democracy. We have held talks with Booth Level Officers, who are the pillars of democracy, in Badgam.”

“We also discussed issues related to the crucial aspect of the most transparent elections in the world, that is the voters’ list… elections and counting that are audited concurrently by political parties and candidates,” he said.

“I want to appreciate the work of all BLOs,” the CEC said on the second day of his three-day visit to the union territory.

During the ongoing visit, CEC Gyanesh Kumar has been participating in various programmes across the Valley aimed at engaging with voters, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Budgam district, and meeting electoral stakeholders and assessing the field-level election machinery.

He also reviewed various electoral initiatives being undertaken at the grassroots level.

Earlier on Sunday, the CEC was received upon his arrival at Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport by Chief Electoral Officer Sanjeev Verma; Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan; and other senior officers from the Administration and the Election Department.

The visit is part of the Election Commission of India’s continued efforts to strengthen engagement with voters and electoral stakeholders, enhance field-level preparedness, and further promote democratic participation and electoral awareness, said a statement.

Gyanesh Kumar took over as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on February 19, 2025. He had been serving as an Election Commissioner since March 15, 2024, before taking charge of the top position.

–IANS

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