Ranchi, Feb 04 : The Election Commission of India has recognized Jharkhand as one of the top three states for successfully conducting incident-free Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024, a feat attributed to the exceptional leadership of K. Ravi Kumar, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.
Kumar, a 2004-batch IAS officer, was awarded by President Droupadi Murmu on National Voters’ Day, January 25, 2025, for his significant contributions to ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections. The award marks a moment of pride for Jharkhand, a state often marred by challenges of tribal underdevelopment, governance issues, and corruption scandals.
Reflecting on the achievement, Kumar humbly attributed the success to the Election Commission’s guidelines. “I followed the Election Commission’s guidelines in letter and spirit,” he said.
Kumar also implemented an innovative strategy inspired by polio patient identification to address voter list issues. “I directed all Booth Level Workers to conduct a door-to-door campaign to identify eligible voters and mark their houses with a tick mark, mirroring an administrative measure used to identify and record polio patients. The Booth Level Workers executed this task effectively,” Kumar explained.
He further highlighted the critical role of well-trained Booth Level Officers, ensuring they received proper training from experienced instructors. “This is a moment of pride for the entire state. We acknowledge everyone who contributed to ensuring fair elections. Teamwork was the key to our success,” Kumar stated.
Kumar revealed that his team worked tirelessly, putting in nearly 18-hour days for three months to make the elections a success. Manoj Prasad, Chief Editor of JharkhandStateNews.com, commended the achievement, noting its significance in a state often seen as grappling with governance challenges. As Jharkhand basks in national recognition for its flawless elections, Kumar’s leadership and the collective effort of his team stand as a testament to effective and innovative administration.
