New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed a team of observers to ensure smooth and fair conduct of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections and by-elections in eight assembly constituencies.
In order to ensure equal opportunity and maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the Commission has appointed these observers under the constitutional mandate provided by Article 324 and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Elections in Bihar will be held in two phases
For the two-phase Bihar elections to be held on November 6 and 11, the Commission has deployed 20 police observers along with 121 general observers and 18 police observers for the first phase, and 122 general observers for the second phase. In addition, 8 general observers and 8 police observers have been appointed to monitor the ongoing by-elections.
Deployed to monitor election preparations
All observers have completed their initial tour of the designated constituencies and are now deployed at the ground level to monitor election preparations. The Commission has directed them to ensure transparency, fairness and effective implementation of electoral norms throughout the process.
Observers have been instructed to maintain full access to political parties, candidates and voters and ensure speedy redressal of grievances. They have also been tasked with inspecting polling stations and monitoring the implementation of the recently launched voter facilitation initiatives by the Commission.
Earlier, the Election Commission once again activated its Economic Intelligence Committee after six years. The Multi-Departmental Committee on Electoral Intelligence Affairs (MDCEI) met on Friday in this regard. This meeting was held for the first time since 2019.
The aim is to strengthen the strategy of enforcement agencies as well as central police forces with the aim of preventing the use of money and gifts to influence voters in the electoral state, especially Bihar.
