The Election Commission on Thursday held a briefing meeting with special observers associated for the forthcoming assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Welcoming the newly appointed special observers, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora appreciated the role that observers have played in the past elections and helping the Commission fulfil the Constitutional mandate of conducting free, fair, transparent, impartial and inducement-free elections.
Arora emphasised on greater coordination amidst all enforcement agencies functioning on the ground. He further added that the special observers will have an additional role in supervising deployment of forces and their randomisation for poll duties.
The meeting was held in Nirvachan Sadan in the newly refurbished Sukumar Sen Hall dedicated to the memory of First Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen.
Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra drew attention to the Commission's recent order with respect to webcasting of all vulnerable booths and emphasised on making elections totally inducement-free. Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stressed on the role of the observers in ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent and safe manner.
The Special Observers, who worked during the previous elections, apprised the Commission of issues and challenges, based on their past experiences.
The Special Observers will be visiting their assigned states and superintend and monitor poll preparedness being done by state and district level officials. They will also have a series of meetings with the General, Police and Expenditure Observers deployed in the field.
