Election Commission Deploys Observers for Bihar Polls and Nationwide Bypolls
The Election Commission of India announced it will deploy 470 central observers for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and by-elections for eight assembly seats across six states and one union territory. The observers, drawn from services including the IAS and IPS, will oversee the electoral process to ensure it is free and fair. The Bihar elections are scheduled for November, with bypolls to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana, Mizoram, and Odisha around the same time.
Unpacked:
IAS officers oversee administrative aspects of the election, IPS officers focus on law and order and security, while officers from services like IRS monitor election expenses to prevent illegal transactions and ensure compliance with campaign finance regulations.
Deploying over 470 observers is unprecedented because it means nearly two observers per assembly seat—a scale not seen before in Bihar elections—reflecting the Election Commission’s heightened focus on ensuring fairness, transparency, and peaceful polling amid concerns about the influence of power and money.
The by-elections will cover Budgam and Nagrota in Jammu & Kashmir, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatsila in Jharkhand, Jubilee Hills in Telangana, Tarn Taran in Punjab, Dampa in Mizoram, and Nuapada in Odisha. Bypolls are held to fill vacancies due to resignation, death, or disqualification of sitting members.
Observers monitor polling, review administrative and security arrangements, oversee campaign spending, and report irregularities directly to the Election Commission. They identify areas for improvement, ensure impartiality, and help boost voter awareness and participation, thereby upholding the democratic process.