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.
Tensions between India and Bangladesh have taken a new turn. The controversy escalated after Must
The sudden change in weather on Wednesday night in Delhi NCR, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh caused ha
The noose has started tightening on the miscreants who created a ruckus during the idol immersion
Support for the Waqf Amendment Act proved costly, mob set BJP leader Askar Ali's house on fire.
In Manipur, BJP leaders had to pay a heavy price for supporting the Waqf Amendment Act. The mob s
In a major relief for motorists, Nayara Energy has reduced petrol prices by ₹5 per litre and di
India enjoyed another successful day at the Commonwealth Games as Gulveer Singh scripted history
South superstar Rajinikanth has been given a golden visa by the Culture and Tourism Department of
Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that the BJP's manifesto for the Lok Sabha el
Kangana Ranaut, who has made a special place in the hearts of people with her strong acting, has
Government Increases Windfall Tax on Diesel, ATF Exports; Big Relief for Petrol Explained
The Central Government has once again revised the windfall tax on fuel exports, increasing the le
