TFP Bureau, New Delhi, April 13, 2024: With polling scheduled for 19th April 2024 in 102 Parliamentary Constituencies across 21 states, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the deployment of over 350 observers to ensure smooth, free, and fair polling.
The constituencies, spanning across various states and union territories, are gearing up for the electoral process, with 127 General Observers, 67 Police Observers, and 167 Expenditure Observers already deployed. The observers were stationed well in advance, before the last date of nomination on 26th March 2024.
Heading the directives, Sh. Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner, accompanied by Sh. Gyanesh Kumar and Sh. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Election Commissioners, emphasized the importance of providing all amenities at polling stations, especially to combat heat. They instructed observers to ensure neutrality, optimal utilization of forces, and strict vigilance over law and order.
Central Observers were tasked with various responsibilities, including overseeing preparedness for polling, ensuring fairness for all stakeholders, and randomization of deployment of forces and polling personnel. They were also instructed to oversee the distribution of voter information slips, deployment of micro observers, and proper functioning of complaint redressal mechanisms.
Additionally, measures were put in place to facilitate voting for elderly and differently-abled individuals, with provisions for home voting and postal ballots. Security arrangements at EVM strong rooms were emphasized, along with the establishment of integrated control rooms for timely corrective action.
Efforts were also made to curb misinformation and ensure the smooth functioning of media certification and monitoring committees. With these directives in place, the ECI aims to conduct the upcoming polling process with efficiency, transparency, and integrity.
