New Delhi, March 17: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 1,111 observers for the ongoing general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and by-elections being held in 6 states.
The respective numbers of general observers, police observers, expenditure observers are as follows – Assam โ 51, 35, 50; Kerala 51, 17, 40; Tamil Nadu 136, 40, 151; West Bengal 294, 84, 100; Puducherry 17, 4, 17; by-elections 8, 8, 8.
It is noteworthy that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while announcing the schedule for the general assembly elections, stated that the elections should be conducted in a violence-free and inducement-free manner so that every voter can cast their vote without fear or bias. Accordingly, observers will act as the Commission’s eyes and ears to ensure this objective.
The Commission has directed that observers reach their respective assembly constituencies by tomorrow. Upon arrival, observers will make their contact details public and will set aside a fixed time each day to meet with candidates, political parties or their representatives, or any member of the public to address their election-related complaints.