The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday held a comprehensive briefing for General, Police, and Expenditure Observers who will be deployed as Central Observers for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections and bye-elections in several states.
A total of 425 officers, including 287 IAS officers, 58 IPS officers, and 80 officers from IRS, IRAS, ICAS, and other services, participated in the briefing session organised at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, addressed the gathering. Describing the Observers as the “beacons of democracy,” CEC Gyanesh Kumar stressed their vital role as the Commission’s eyes and ears on the ground.
He urged the Observers to familiarise themselves with election laws, rules, and guidelines, provide independent field inputs, and ensure strict and impartial compliance. The officials were also asked to remain fully accessible to political parties, candidates, and voters for grievance redressal.
In addition, Observers have been tasked with visiting polling stations to oversee the implementation of recent voter-friendly initiatives introduced by the Commission.
The Commission underscored that Central Observers are appointed under the plenary powers granted by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Their mandate is to assist the Commission in conducting free, fair, and transparent elections while ensuring efficient management of the electoral process at the field level.