Election Commission today organized a briefing meeting for General, Police, and Expenditure Observers in New Delhi for the Assembly Elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Addressing the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar directed the Commission’s Observers to ensure a level-playing field by working in a coordinated manner to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections. He said the Commission is increasingly concentrating on having a humane face, by facilitating and including Persons with Disabilities PwD, Senior Citizens of 80 age, and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, PVTGs with the help of special provisions, such as Home Voting and Accessible Polling Stations.
 
Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said that the election should not only be fair but also seen to be fair. He instructed the observers to keep an eye on social media and ensure corrective actions.
 
Election Commissioner Arun Goel asked observers to ensure their work is carried out in letter and spirit and ensure the rule of law. He said observers are the eyes and ears of ECI and should deal with complaints promptly.
 
Senior Deputy Election Commissioners, Deputy Election Commissioners, and Directors General also briefed the observers on various important themes related to elections like EVM, Electoral Rolls, Model Code of Conduct, Expenditure, Legal provisions, IT initiatives, Media certification & Monitoring committee and social social related SOPs.
 
Around 1180 officials attended the sessions. Officers drawn from IAS, IPS, IRS and other accounts Services across the country are deployed as General, Police, and Expenditure Observers.