**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, conducted a review of poll preparedness for the upcoming Legislative Assembly Elections in Assam on February 17-18, 2026. The review included interactions with representatives from recognized national and state political parties, and officials including IGs, DIGs, DEOs, and SSPs. Key directives focused on ensuring impartiality, prompt resolution of grievances, and the strict adherence to constitutional guidelines during the electoral process.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Electoral Process & Conduct**
* Elections must be conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, relevant laws, and ECI instructions.
* DEOs, SSPs, and state administration are directed to act with complete impartiality.
* The Commission must ensure prompt resolution of complaints and grievances from political parties.
* Efforts are to be made to create a pleasant, festive, welcoming, and voter-friendly voting experience at polling stations.
* **Political Party Suggestions & Concerns**
* Most political parties requested elections to be conducted in a single or maximum of two phases.
* Political parties requested the scheduling of election dates keeping in mind the Bihu festival.
* Political parties generally appreciated the conduct of Special Revision of the Electoral Rolls in Assam.
* Parties provided suggestions to ensure peaceful conduct of elections.
* **Social Media Monitoring**
* All DEOs and SPs must monitor social media for fake news.
* They must respond swiftly with appropriate legal action if required.
* **Review with Officials**
* The Commission reviewed with IGs, DIGs, DEOs, and SSPs every aspect of election planning.
* Key areas of review included EVM management, logistics, training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness, and outreach activities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Political Parties**
* **Impact:** Their views, concerns, and suggestions regarding the election process were heard by the Commission.
* **Action Required:** To follow all election guidelines and regulations.
**DEOs and SSPs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for executing the ECI's directives and ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful election.
* **Action Required:** Act with impartiality, promptly resolve grievances, monitor social media, create a voter-friendly experience, and adhere strictly to constitutional guidelines.
**State Administration**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assisting the DEOs and SSPs in executing the ECI's directives
* **Action Required:** Act with impartiality, promptly resolve grievances and adhere strictly to constitutional guidelines.
**Voters**
* **Impact:** Aim to provide a pleasant voting experience by making polling stations festive, welcoming and voter-friendly.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the elections, partake in the electoral process.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulator conducting the Assembly Elections in Assam.
Assembly Elections in Assam: The forthcoming elections that are the subject of the review.
Guwahati: The location where the review of poll preparedness took place.
Election Commission
ECI reviews poll preparedness for forthcoming
Assembly Elections in Assam
Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 7:43PM by PIB Delhi
1. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr.
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi held a detailed and a comprehensive review of the poll
preparedness for the forthcoming Legislative Assembly Elections in Assam in Guwahati today.
2. During day one of the two-day (Feb 17 and 18) review visit, the Commission interacted with the
representatives of recognized national and state political parties namely Aam Aadmi Party,
Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, All India
United Democratic Front, Asom Gana Parishad, United People's Party Liberal and Bodoland
People’s Front and sought their suggestions.
3. The Commission interacted with each of the political parties giving them an opportunity to present
their views, concerns and suggestions to ensure that the forthcoming elections in the State are held
in a transparent and impartial manner.
4. Majority of political parties requested that the elections be conducted in a single phase or a
maximum of two phases. The Political Parties also placed the demand to schedule the election dates
keeping in mind the Bihu festival.
5. The Political Parties generally appreciated the conduct of Special Revision of the Electoral Rolls in
Assam.
6. The parties also gave suggestions for ensuring peaceful conduct of elections in the state.
7. Following the interaction with the Political Parties, the Commission held a detailed review with the
IGs, DIGs, DEOs and SSPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics,
training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness and outreach activities.
8. CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar underscored that the elections must be conducted strictly in accordance
with the Constitution, relevant laws, and ECI instructions.
9. The Commission directed all DEOs, SSPs, state administration to act with complete impartiality and
ensure prompt resolution of the complaints and grievances of the political parties.
10. The Commission also directed that efforts be made to create a pleasant voting experience by making
polling stations festive, welcoming, and voter-friendly.
11. All DEOs and SPs were instructed to monitor social media for fake news and to respond swiftly
with appropriate legal action, if required.
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PK/GDH/RP
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