EC full bench to visit poll-bound Assam, other states after Feb 15
Election dates are likely to be announced early in March
NEW DELHI, Feb 6: A full bench of the Election Commission (EC) will visit poll-bound Assam and four other states after February 15 and the election dates are likely to be announced early in March, sources said.
The poll panel on Thursday organised briefing meetings for general, police and expenditure observers who will be deployed as central observers for the general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
A total of 1,444 officers, including 714 general observers, 233 police observers and 497 expenditure observers were called for the briefing.
The briefing will be held in three batches over two days on Thursday and Friday at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi briefed the central observers.
Addressing the observers, Kumar said that they have been selected to serve as the beacons of ECI.
“The observers should ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Your presence will energise the entire election machinery across 824 constituencies where elections are going to be held,” said Kumar.
The observers were also briefed on IT applications and platforms, and media-related matters.
As the EC’s ‘eyes and ears’, the observers were asked to familiarize themselves with all election laws, rules, guidelines and provide inputs directly to the Commission to ensure their strict and impartial compliance.
The observers were instructed to remain fully accessible to political parties, candidates, and voters and see that the grievances are redressed in a timely manner.
By
A Correspondent