
The Election Commission on Tuesday appointed special observers for administrative, security, and expenditure monitoring purposes in several states to ensure a level playing field during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The election panel said special observers – former civil servants with stellar track records – have been tasked with monitoring the electoral process with strict vigilance. The panel said the responsibility has been given especially in the backdrop of challenges arising from the influence of money, muscle power, and misinformation.
The Election Commission said special observers (general and police) have been deployed in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, which have a population of more than seven crore. The Commission said that assembly elections are also to be held along with Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. It said special expenditure observers have also been deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
The election panel said special observers will be posted at the state headquarters and if needed, will visit areas where sensitivity is high and necessary coordination is required. The panel said they may seek requisite inputs from time to time from observers posted in parliamentary constituencies, assembly seats, or districts, wherever necessary, without interfering in their work.
Election Commission officials said they have also been ordered to seek inputs and coordinate with regional heads and nodal officers of various agencies involved in monitoring activities. He said the special observers will have a special focus on border areas and will work towards stopping the influx of migrants and will also seek inputs on redressal of public grievances.
Also on his agenda are rapid responses to counter false narratives and monitoring of the last 72 hours before voting to ensure free and fair elections.
Know who got posting where
Retired IAS Manjeet Singh has been posted as a general special observer in Bihar, while former IPS Vivek Dubey has been posted as police special observer in the state. In Maharashtra, retired IAS Dharmendra S Gangwar has been made the general special observer, while former IPS NK Mishra has been made the police special observer.
In Uttar Pradesh, retired IAS officer Ajay V Nayak is the general special observer, and former IPS officer Manmohan Singh is the police special observer. Similarly, the general special observer in Andhra Pradesh is retired IAS officer Ram Mohan Mishra and the police special observer is former IPS Deepak Mishra who was once with Delhi Police.
Amidst the devastation caused by devastating floods and landslides in North Bengal, and the deadl
A day after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar publicly criticized the Supreme Court for setting a t
Rules Change: From LPG, UPI to Railways, these major rules have changed from October 1
The month of October has begun today. The new month brings new changes. These changes directly im
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 42nd match of IPL 2024.&nbs
Smartphone Overheating This Summer? Follow These 8 Easy Tips to Keep Your Phone Cool
Smartphone Heating Problem Increasing During Summer
With temperatures risi
The Government of India on Thursday said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is continu
Amidst the ongoing power struggle between the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena over the Mumbai mayoral po
The Supreme Court resumed hearing the stray dog issue on Thursday. The Supreme Court focuse
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the schedule for Team India’s 202
Arshad, a resident of Islam Nagar, Tehri Bagiya, Kuberpur, Agra, along with his father Badar, kil