NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday organized a briefing meeting for observers to be deployed for the forth coming General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal 2021 for which schedule was announced on February 26th, 2021. More than 1650 Observers today participated in the briefing meeting physically and virtually from more than 120 remote locations also. Officers from IAS, IPS, IRS and other central services have been included to be deployed as General, Police and Expenditure Observers.
Addressing the Observers, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said that observers are one of the most important torchbearers of Indian democracy. He also recalled that during his tenure in ECI, since September 2017, he has been associated with 14 Elections of state Assemblies and also the 2019 Lok Sabha General Elections wherein Observers played an important role in the conduct of elections.
Taking note of the exemplary works accomplished by the CEO and DEOs of Bihar despite wide-spread Covid concerns, the ECI said Bihar Assembly elections have literally become a turning point in the history of Indian elections. Even the participation of voters was better than the previous Assembly and Parliamentary elections in Bihar.
Arora said successful conduct of elections is always a combined feat of field officers and ECI where the Observers and Special Observers also play a vital role. He added that, during these elections, Observers will have additional role in randomization of forces and its deployment. CEC said the resilience of Indian democracy lies in the fact that the so-said “Common Man” plays a decisive role in government formation.
The motto of ECI is to ensure empowered, vigilant, well informed and safe voter. He reminded the Observers that they should be visible and accessible to citizens and enable them to vote fearlessly. He warned the observers that ECI will act swiftly and ruthlessly in case anyone is found to be lax in performing their duties. ECI shall not tolerate any wilLful lapses, he reiterated. Arora asked the Observers to visit the Polling Booths to check due facilitation to senior citizens, Persons with disabilities and women voters to ensure Commission’s commitment to principle of Inclusive Elections.