Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, assumed the Chairship of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for 2026.
Ambassador of India to Sweden, Anurag Bhushan, attended the ceremony in Stockholm.
The Chairship represents a significant milestone because it highlights global recognition of the Election Commission of India as one of the world’s most credible and innovative Election Management Bodies. Moreover, India, a founding member of International IDEA, has consistently contributed to governance, democratic discourse, and institutional initiatives.
Upon arrival in Stockholm, Kumar met Ambassador Bhushan and also held discussions with International IDEA Secretary-General Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora. In his acceptance speech, Kumar emphasised the scale of India’s democratic exercise, noting that the country has over 900 million electors across 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
Reflecting on the 2024 General Elections, he pointed out that India witnessed a democratic spectacle with more than 20,000 candidates from 743 political parties, including six national and 67 state parties. In addition, he highlighted that over 20 million election personnel, including one million Booth Level Officers and five million polling staff, managed the exercise.
Kumar observed that India has conducted 18 general elections to Parliament and more than 400 general elections to State Legislatures since independence. Furthermore, he stated that India envisions sharing not only the learnings of the world’s largest democracy but also the democratic values deeply rooted in India’s civilizational heritage.
Affirming the way forward, Kumar pledged that India’s Chairmanship will be decisive, ambitious, and action-oriented. He announced that India will steer the Council’s work around the theme “Democracy for inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world” with two key pillars: Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent & Professional Election Management Bodies for Sustainable Democracy.
Finally, Kumar assured that India will strive to ensure every vote counts, every voice matters, and democracies worldwide become more inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable. Alongside India, Mauritius, and Mexico will serve as Vice Chairs of the International IDEA Council in 2026.
