Ensure level playing field for all parties: CEC to poll observers | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday directed poll observers – who will be acting as “eyes and ears” of Election Commission in the coming general election – to ensure a level-playing field for all political parties and candidates, keep the polls free of intimidation and inducements, be accessible to all and see to it that the forces are judiciously deployed through randomisation and maintain their neutrality.
At a briefing of nearly 2,150 observers – who are senior officers drawn from IAS, IPS, IRS and other central services – organised by EC in hybrid mode here, Kumar stressed that they are expected to conduct themselves professionally and be available on phone or email to party representatives, candidates, poll personnel and general public within the constituency allotted to them, at all times. “Any complaints in this regard shall be viewed seriously by the commission,” he stated.
Of the 2,150 observers who joined the briefing, 900 will be general observers, 450 police observers and 800 expenditure observers.
Kumar told the observers to be tough but polite in their conduct on the field and visit the polling stations in their assigned constituency to familiarise themselves with the geography and take stock of any vulnerabilities and sensitive areas. They were directed to remain within the boundaries of the parliamentary constituency allotted to them, through the entire poll process; their vehicle will be fitted with a GPS tracking device to ensure this.
At a briefing of nearly 2,150 observers – who are senior officers drawn from IAS, IPS, IRS and other central services – organised by EC in hybrid mode here, Kumar stressed that they are expected to conduct themselves professionally and be available on phone or email to party representatives, candidates, poll personnel and general public within the constituency allotted to them, at all times. “Any complaints in this regard shall be viewed seriously by the commission,” he stated.
Of the 2,150 observers who joined the briefing, 900 will be general observers, 450 police observers and 800 expenditure observers.
Kumar told the observers to be tough but polite in their conduct on the field and visit the polling stations in their assigned constituency to familiarise themselves with the geography and take stock of any vulnerabilities and sensitive areas. They were directed to remain within the boundaries of the parliamentary constituency allotted to them, through the entire poll process; their vehicle will be fitted with a GPS tracking device to ensure this.
