New Delhi, February 07:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday organised briefing meetings for General, Police and Expenditure Observers who will be deployed as Central Observers for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
A total of 1,444 officers were called for the briefing, including 714 General Observers, 233 Police Observers and 497 Expenditure Observers. The meetings are being held in three batches over two days, on February 5 and 6, 2026, at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, briefed the Central Observers during the sessions.
Addressing the observers, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said they had been selected to serve as the beacons of the Election Commission of India. He emphasised that the observers must ensure free, fair and transparent elections, adding that their presence would energise the entire election machinery across 824 constituencies where polls are scheduled.
Election Commissioner Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu said the observers should act as a friend, philosopher and guide to election officials in the field. He stressed that their arrival must be well publicised and that they should remain accessible, ensuring that voter grievances are addressed promptly to avoid even the perception of favouritism.
Election Commissioner Dr Vivek Joshi said the observers must ensure that the Commission’s instructions are implemented in letter and spirit while upholding impartiality and democratic values. He also directed that Voter Information Slips be distributed well in advance so that voters are not inconvenienced on polling day.
The Commission also interacted with the observers during a doubt-clearing session. Senior officials briefed them on various aspects of electoral roll preparation and the conduct of elections in the five poll-bound States and Union Territories.
Observers were also briefed on IT applications, digital platforms and media-related matters during the sessions.
Describing the observers as the Commission’s eyes and ears, the ECI asked them to familiarise themselves with election laws, rules and guidelines and to provide direct feedback to the Commission to ensure strict and impartial compliance.
The observers were instructed to remain fully accessible to political parties, candidates and voters, and to ensure that grievances are redressed in a timely manner. They were also directed to visit polling stations and oversee the implementation of recent voter-centric initiatives, including the provision of Assured Minimum Facilities.
Central Observers are appointed under the plenary powers conferred on the Election Commission of India by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to assist in the conduct of free and fair elections and to oversee the effective management of the electoral process at the field level.