In a First, ECI Trains Booth Level Agents to Strengthen Grassroot Participation of Political Parties
New Delhi, April 16: In a landmark initiative aimed at deepening democratic participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a first-of-its-kind training programme for Booth Level Agents (BLAs), with a focus on empowering grassroots political representatives.
The two-day training session, being held at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi, witnessed participation from around 280 BLAs representing 10 recognised political parties from Bihar.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, addressed the inaugural session. The training initiative was conceptualised during the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) Conference held on March 4, 2025, reflecting ECI’s commitment to inclusive and transparent electoral processes.
Describing BLAs as vital links between political parties and voters at the booth level, the Commission underlined the importance of equipping them with comprehensive knowledge of the legal and procedural framework of elections. The participants were trained on the Representation of People Acts of 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, along with other guidelines issued by the ECI.
The training focused on the appointment process, roles, and responsibilities of BLAs, particularly their critical role in the maintenance and revision of electoral rolls. Participants were introduced to the relevant forms and procedural mechanisms for ensuring error-free electoral records. The session also provided insights into the use of first and second appeals under Sections 24(a) and 24(b) of the RP Act, 1950 for addressing grievances related to final published rolls.
Through this training, an official spokesperson said, the ECI aims to build the capacity of BLAs to serve as vigilant and knowledgeable agents in the electoral process, thereby enhancing transparency, accuracy, and trust in democratic institutions at the grassroots level.
