Lok Sabha polls: Election Commission to appoint Special Observers

New Delhi: In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission appointed special observers for administrative, security and expenditure monitoring purposes in several states on Tuesday. The move was to create a level field for the polls, PTI reported.

The special observers, who are reportedly former civil servants with brilliant track records, will oversee the electoral process with strict vigilance, particularly against the backdrop of challenges posed by the influence of money, muscle and misinformation, the poll body informed.

In West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, where the population is more than seven crore, Special Observers (General and Police) were deployed. The same were deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha where the simultaneous elections to the Assemblies are to be held.

Special Expenditure Observers have also been deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

Special Observers will stay in state headquarters and tour the areas where sensitivity is high and necessary coordination is required.

They can seek requisite inputs from time to time from the observers deployed in the parliamentary constituencies, assembly seats or districts, wherever necessary, without interfering in their work. They are also mandated to seek inputs and coordinate with regional heads and nodal officers of various agencies involved in monitoring activities.

The special observers will have a special focus on border areas and work towards plugging the inflow of inducements and also work on seeking inputs on the redressal of grievances of the public.

Also on their agenda is quick response to counter false narrative and monitoring of the last 72 hours before the poll, to ensure free and fair elections.

Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.