The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the deployment of 470 Central Observers for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and by-elections in several states. These observers will include 320 IAS officers, 60 IPS officers, and 90 officers from IRS, IRAS, ICAS, and other services.
The by-elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir (Budgam and Nagrota), Rajasthan (Anta), Jharkhand (Ghatsila), Telangana (Jubilee Hills), Punjab (Tarn-Taran), Mizoram (Dampa), and Odisha (Nuapada).
📝 Role and Responsibilities of Central Observers
Central Observers—categorized as General, Police, and Expenditure observers—are appointed under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. They function under the supervision, control, and discipline of the ECI from the time of their appointment until the completion of the electoral process.
Observers are considered the “eyes and ears of the Commission” and play a crucial role in ensuring:
Free, fair, and transparent elections
Effective field-level management of the electoral process
Monitoring and reporting on election expenditure
Increasing voter awareness and participation
General and Police Observers assist in the overall conduct and management of elections, while Expenditure Observers focus on monitoring candidate expenses.
📌 Nuapada By-Election to Coincide with Bihar Polls
The Nuapada Assembly seat in Odisha, which fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia, is likely to have its by-election alongside the Bihar elections. Dholakia was a four-time MLA and served as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet (2022–2024).
The Election Commission emphasized that the deployment of Central Observers is vital for maintaining electoral integrity and ensuring that voters have confidence in the democratic process
