Patna: The Election Commission of India has announced that over 400 senior officials will be deployed to monitor the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, in a move aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency in the polls.
According to the Commission, a total of 470 officers drawn from the IAS, IPS, IRS, IRAS and ICAS services will serve as central observers. This includes 320 IAS, 60 IPS and 90 officers from the revenue and accounts services. They will also oversee by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana and Punjab.
The Commission said the observers will remain under its “supervision, control and discipline” until the election process concludes. Their mandate is to uphold the credibility of the polls and report continuously to the Commission. “The observers act as the eyes and ears of the Commission,” it said, noting that their work contributes not only to the smooth conduct of voting but also to voter awareness and participation.
Ahead of the elections, the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners are scheduled to visit Bihar on October 4 and 5 to review preparations. A day earlier, on October 3, the Commission will meet all observers in New Delhi, including those appointed as general, police and expenditure monitors. The poll schedule for Bihar is expected to be announced shortly after the review.
