Jordan requests for Election Commission of India's assistance in Election Management and Electoral Reforms

Jordan has requested Election Commission of India for assistance in election management and electoral reforms. The request was made by Jordanian Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Awn Khasawneh to the visiting Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S.Y. Quraishi at their meeting in Amman. Dr. Quraishi who is heading a four-member delegation to Jordan on the invitation of the country’s Prime Minister, assured the Jordanian side of Election Commission of India’s support in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to develop election laws and election management structure. The Jordanian Prime Minister informed the Chief Election Commissioner about the steps undertaken to create an independent Election Commission in his country and sought Election Commission of India’s help in building capacity of Jordanian officials in conduct of elections. He complimented the Indian Commission for its remarkable work and said that Jordan would like to benefit from the experience. Dr. Quraishi made an offer to H.E. Mr. Awn Khasawneh that the top officials of the proposed Election Commission of Jordan can receive training at the Election Commission of India. He offered the Jordanian side Election Commission of India’s training facilities at the newly created India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), while suggesting that the training can take place either in India or Jordan or at both places. He briefed the Jordanian Prime Minister about various aspects of conduct of elections in India including new interventions like voters’ education and expenditure control. Dr. Quraishi lauded various measures being taken up by Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of King Abdullah II for ensuring a fair and transparent polling process. He suggested to the Jordanian Government a set of various statutes and legal provisions relating to management of Indian elections.

The Jordanian Prime Minister was joined in the meeting by his cabinet colleagues and other officials. Chief Election Commissioner was accompanied by India’s Ambassador to Jordan, Mr. R.R. Dash and other members of the delegation. Dr. Quraishi will have meetings with several Jordanian Ministers and dignitaries including Ministers of Justice, Legal Affairs and Political Development and Parliamentary Affairs for preparing a roadmap of collaboration between the two sides. He is accompanied by Shri Akshay Rout, Director General, Election Commission of India; Shri Umesh Sinha, Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh and Shri S.K. Mendiratta, Legal Advisor, Election Commission of India.