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Election Commission Of India logo.
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New Delhi: The Election Commission has appointed 470 officers as its general, police and expenditure observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar and seven Assembly bypolls to ensure "fairness, impartiality and credibility of elections".
Of the 470 officers, 320 IAS, 60 from IPS and 90 from services like IRS, IRAS and ICAS.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi will hold a meeting with these observers at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in Delhi’s Dwarka on October 3 before they head to Bihar for a review of poll preparedness in the state.
They will be deployed in constituencies in Bihar as well as in Budgam and Nagrota (Jammu and Kashmir), Anta (Rajasthan), Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Jubilee Hills (Telangana), Tarn Taran (Punjab), Dampa (Mizoram) and Nuapada (Odisha).
"The Observers are entrusted with the crucial and solemn responsibility to ensure the fairness, impartiality and credibility of elections, which ultimately forms the bedrock of our democratic polity. They act as eyes and ears of the Commission and keep reporting to the Commission periodically and on need basis," a statement said.
"Observers not only help the Commission in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of conducting free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections but also contribute towards enhancing voter awareness and participation in elections. The main objective of the Observers is to identify areas for improvements and to formulate concrete and operative recommendations," it said.
The EC said with their seniority and long experience in the administrative services, general and police observers assist the poll body in the conduct of free and fair polls while expenditure Observers are appointed to observe the election expenses incurred by candidates.
The EC deploys central observers under the plenary powers conferred on it by Article 324 of the Constitution and the powers conferred on it by Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to watch the conduct of elections in a constituency.
The observers work under the superintendence, control, and discipline of the EC for the period from their appointment until the process of election is completed.