EC appoints two former IRS officers as special expenditure observers for Bihar polls

The Election Commission has appointed two special observers to check the use of money power in the forthcoming Assembly polls in Bihar.

Madhu Mahajan and B R Balakrishnan – both retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers – have been appointed as special expenditure observers, the EC stated on Sunday.

The Special Expenditure Observers in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will be supervising and monitoring the work being done by the electoral machinery, the poll-panel stated, adding that they would ensure that stringent and effective enforcement action would be undertaken based on intelligence inputs and complaints received through CVIGIL, voter Helpline 1950 against all persons and entities trying to induce voters by distributing cash, liquor and freebies.