15 Special Observers appointed for 5 poll-bound states
15 Special Observers appointed for 5 poll-bound states
New Delhi, Feb. 1 (Delhi Crown): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday appointed 15 Special Observers, all retired civil servants, for the five poll-bound states, including four for Uttar Pradesh and three for Punjab.
The Special Observers will soon be visiting their allocated states and start their work with State CEOs and concerned Deputy Election Commissioners.
These Special Observers hold impeccable and brilliant track record of domain expertise and have past experience with election processes, have been included in the team as Special Observers for the current poll going states, said the ECI in a statement.
They will be supervising and monitoring the work being done by the electoral machinery in their assigned states and ensure that stringent, effective enforcement action is undertaken based on intelligence inputs and complaints received through CVigil, voter helpline etc.
These officers will oversee the entire poll processes as eyes and ears of the Commission on the ground to ensure free, fair and voter friendly elections.
Welcoming them at a meeting held in Delhi today, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said that the overarching spirit of deploying Special Observers is to “objectively assess the poll preparedness, identify the critical gaps and guide the electoral machinery in the field to ensure impartial, inducement free, peaceful and Covid safe elections”.
Those appointed for Uttar Pradesh are – Ajay Nayak, (IAS Retd.), Deepak Mishra, (IPS Retd.), B. Murali Kumar, (IRS Retd.), B.R. Balakrishnan, (IRS Retd.).
Similarly, Vinod Zutshi, (IAS Retd.), Rajni Kant Mishra, (IPS Retd.) and Himalini Kashyap, (IRS Retd.) have been appointed for Punjab.
