Thimphu: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday kicked off a three-day visit to Bhutan during which he will meet the King and also join celebrations of the hill nation’s National Voters’ Day, an official said.
The visit will further strengthen the close institutional cooperation between the Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan, building on their continued engagement, said an official statement.
During the visit, CEC Gyanesh Kumar will meet the King of Bhutan in Thimphu, the statement said.
A key engagement during the visit will be the celebration of Bhutan’s National Voters’ Day at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, Paro, on Tuesday, where the CEC would be the Chief Guest, it said.
On Wednesday, Gyanesh Kumar will call on Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, in Thimphu. He will also hold an interaction with senior civil servants of Bhutan, the statement said.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has regularly engaged with other nations to promote democratic practices and election management.
Earlier, delegates of the International Election Visitors’ Programme 2026 (IEVP 2026) were given a live demonstration of EVMs and a mock poll in New Delhi, gaining hands-on understanding of India’s robust, tech-driven, and transparent electoral process, an official said.
A live demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) for international delegates to IEVP 2026, the statement said.
Addressing the delegates, IIIDEM Director General Rakesh Kumar Verma highlighted India’s enduring commitment to electoral integrity, inclusivity and institutional excellence.
The live demonstration also offered delegates an insightful engagement, showcasing India’s secure, transparent, and technology-driven electoral framework, the statement said.
Under the IEVP, 43 delegates from 23 countries, including representatives from five Foreign Missions in Delhi, earlier participated in the first phase of the programme and visited Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on April 8-9 to witness polling, the statement said.
(IANS)
