Chhattisgarh Local Body Election Year Book 2026 released; State Election Commissioners deliberate on strengthening local democracy, technology and electoral processes
Published on: September 17, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Nava Raipur, India
Governor Ramen Deka inaugurated the 32nd All India Conference of State Election Commissioners in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on Wednesday. The two-day conference, being held on September 16–17, is being hosted by the Chhattisgarh State Election Commission.
The conference is part of the annual series of meetings of State Election Commissioners, which are organised in different states every year.
Chhattisgarh Local Body Election Year Book 2026 Released
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Chhattisgarh State Election Commissioner Ajay Singh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of State Election Commissioners Vijay Dev, Convenor Sudhanshu Pandey, and Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Vikasheel.
On the occasion, Governor Ramen Deka also released the first edition of the Chhattisgarh Local Body Election Year Book 2026.
Focus on Strengthening Local Democracy
Following the inauguration, State Election Commissioners from different parts of the country discussed various aspects of elections aimed at making local democracy, particularly the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and urban local bodies, more empowered, transparent, inclusive, credible and participatory.
State Election Commissioners and subject experts from different states also made presentations during the conference on various aspects of local body elections.
Chhattisgarh Presents 25-Year Journey of Local Democracy in Bastar
As part of the exchange of experiences, challenges and innovations in conducting local body elections, Chhattisgarh presented the theme “Progress of Local Democracy in Naxal-Affected Bastar During the Last 25 Years After the Formation of the State.”
The presentation was prepared under the direction of State Election Commissioner Ajay Singh and presented by Commission Secretary Shikha Rajput Tiwari.
The presentation highlighted the journey of local democracy in Bastar, where conducting local elections has remained a significant administrative and democratic challenge due to geographical remoteness, extensive forest areas, limited communication facilities and the region’s prolonged exposure to Left-Wing Extremism.
The Chhattisgarh State Election Commission shared its experience of strengthening the democratic process through coordinated efforts involving the administration, police, security forces, election personnel and local communities.
The presentation also highlighted that the 2025 urban local body and three-tier Panchayat elections were conducted simultaneously across the state, including Bastar division, peacefully and successfully, without the need for repolling.
States Share Technology-Based Electoral Initiatives
Representatives from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Kerala presented their experiences regarding the use of information technology in elections.
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The presentations covered topics including “EVM Sharing Tracking Policy and Its Challenges and EMS Software,” “Panchayat Delimitation 2026: Transforming Delimitation through Technology—A New Era of Paperless Delimitation,” “Digitalising Elections in India,” and “Re-engineering Elections in the Digital Era: The Kerala Story.”
International Expert and EVM Manufacturers Participate
An international subject expert associated with Princeton University, New Jersey, USA, also participated in the conference and presented a comparative and integrated study of local elections conducted across different states of India.
Experts on electronic voting machines from public sector undertakings Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, also shared updated information about their respective institutions.
The EVM experts stated that electronic voting machines used in elections are secure and that continuous innovations are being undertaken to develop and manufacture EVMs in accordance with the requirements of State Election Commissions.
