A delegation of the Election Commission of India led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reached Assam on February 16 for a three-day assessment of preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The delegation includes Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. During the visit, the Commission is scheduled to interact with representatives of political parties, senior election officials, law enforcement authorities and other state agencies.

Review of electoral arrangements

Officials said the Commission will conduct detailed review meetings on multiple aspects of election management. These include revision of electoral rolls, law and order arrangements, deployment of security forces, polling station infrastructure and the use of technology to ensure free and fair elections.

The team will also examine the availability and preparedness of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units. Training programmes for polling personnel are also part of the review agenda.

Special attention is expected to be given to sensitive and vulnerable polling stations across the state. Given Assam’s diverse geography, discussions will also focus on arrangements for remote and riverine polling locations, particularly in flood-prone and border areas.

Focus on voter participation and reforms

The Commission is set to assess progress on ongoing electoral reforms, including efforts to increase voter participation, strengthen grievance redressal systems and curb the influence of money and muscle power during elections.

In its meetings with political stakeholders, the poll panel aims to address concerns and ensure a level playing field for all parties in the electoral process.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with the two Election Commissioners, is expected to address the media on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of the visit.

Voter list update

The 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly is expected to go to polls around March or April, with the current Assembly’s term ending on May 20.

Earlier this month, the Commission released the final voter list following the Special Revision 2026 exercise for all 126 constituencies. The final roll records 2,49,58,139 voters, a reduction of 2,43,485 from the draft list figure of 2,52,01,624.

Former Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu has launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi soon after her exit from the party, accusing him of being detached from ground realities and failing to address concerns within the Punjab unit.

Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Sidhu said that Gandhi, who serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has not worked at the grassroots level and is unaware of what is happening within the party in Punjab. She stressed that understanding “ground zero” realities is crucial for leadership and said living in a “dream world” would not help the party.

Drawing a comparison with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sidhu said that while Gandhi speaks well and “talks sense”, his actions do not align with his words. She claimed there is nothing personally against the Prime Minister and challenged critics to find evidence of wrongdoing against him.

Sidhu also alleged widespread corruption within the Punjab Congress leadership. She claimed she sought an appointment with Gandhi for eight months to inform him about what she described as “injustice” and internal damage to the party. According to her, party tickets had already been sold, and she warned that Congress is likely to lose the state polls next year if corrective measures are not taken.

In a direct message to Gandhi, she said that if he is unaware of developments within his own party, then he does not deserve the leadership position. She further alleged that corrupt individuals surround him while honest leaders are ignored.

Sidhu claimed that she and her family were promised key roles, including a deputy chief minister post with seven departments and a Member of Parliament position for her, but were ultimately given nothing.

Last week, Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, announced that Sidhu had been expelled from the party. The announcement followed her own declaration that she had quit.

The 62-year-old leader was earlier associated with the BJP and served as an MLA from 2012 to 2016 before joining Congress. Recently, she levelled serious allegations against Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, claiming that ₹500 crore was being demanded in exchange for the Chief Minister’s post if the party wins the upcoming elections. She was suspended after making those remarks.

With Punjab heading towards elections next year, her allegations add to the turbulence within the state unit of the Congress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasised that science and technology must serve the broader public interest as the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi moved into its second day.

In a post in Hindi, the Prime Minister said that intelligence, rationality and decision-making make science and technology beneficial to the masses. He noted that the India AI Impact Summit aims to explore how artificial intelligence can be deployed for public welfare.

The Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit verse, describing qualities such as the desire to listen, attentive hearing, comprehension, retention, reasoning, decision-making and understanding of principles as the foundations of intellect and intelligence.

Focus on responsible and inclusive AI

On the opening day of the summit on Monday, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s commitment to developing responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence while inaugurating the expo. He interacted with startups, researchers and technology leaders who presented AI-driven solutions spanning multiple sectors.

He is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address on February 19, outlining India’s approach to global cooperation and its vision for inclusive, trusted and development-oriented AI.

Global participation and startup showcase

The summit features 13 country pavilions, reflecting international collaboration in the AI ecosystem. Participating nations include Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and several African countries.

More than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations are being organised under three thematic “chakras” — People, Planet and Progress — highlighting AI’s impact across different domains.

Over 600 high-potential startups are also taking part, with several already deploying population-scale AI solutions in real-world settings.