The Election Commission of India conducted a review meeting with polling officials and Central Observers for the upcoming elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on April 9. The EC emphasized the importance of following guidelines to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. CEC Gyanesh Kumar urged the Observers to ensure a festive, free, and fair election without any intimidation or violence.
The meeting, attended by 282 Central Observers and Chief Electoral Officers through video-conferencing, focused on enforcing the Model Code of Conduct. The EC stressed the need for swift action on any reported violations and instructed Observers to publicize their contact details for complaints from the public or political parties.
In addition to overseeing the training of Presiding Officers and data management, the Observers were tasked with ensuring voter convenience at polling stations. The EC highlighted the importance of facilities like mobile phone deposit options and seating arrangements for voters. Webcasting monitoring rooms were also to be checked for proper functioning and error identification.
The upcoming Assembly elections in four states and one UT will engage around 17.4 crore eligible voters across 824 constituencies. Over 2.5 million election officials will manage 2.18 lakh polling booths. The Model Code of Conduct remains in effect in the states where elections are scheduled.
