At a meeting here with Central observers for the forthcoming Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday asked them to ensure that the electoral exercise is held as per the law and the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Briefing meetings were held in three batches on Thursday and Friday at the ECI for 1444 officers, including 714 general observers, 233 police observers and 497 expenditure observers for the Assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The observers were briefed on various aspects of preparation of electoral rolls, conduct of elections, and expenditure, information technology and media-related matters. They were also given a demonstration of the EVMs.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, briefed the third batch of central observers, on the second and final day of the briefing meetings. The ECI also interacted with the observers in a doubt-clearing session.
The CEC reiterated that elections are held as per the law and cautioned there is no scope of deviation. He impressed upon the observers to follow the ECI’s instructions. He also informed that in addition to the new initiatives already taken by the Commission in the past one year, certain new initiatives are being taken for the coming Assembly elections. He called upon the observers to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
In his address, Election Commissioner Sandhu said that the Central observers have a big responsibility on their shoulders and when they are on the field, the observers are the representatives of ECI. He called upon the officers to observe highest levels of conduct while carrying out their duties and ensure a level playing field for all.
Addressing the observers, Dr. Vivek Joshi called upon them to promptly address the grievances and complaints received by them. This, he said, helps build the trust of the people and the political parties in the electoral process. He also apprised them about the various new initiatives taken by the Commission in the past one year, which, he said were successfully implemented during the Bihar Assembly elections.