March 18, New Delhi - The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed over 25 lakh officials to ensure smooth and orderly elections in five states and a Union Territory. Over 17.4 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, which translates to nearly one official for every 70 electors.
The assembly elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with by-elections in six states.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that officials have been instructed to act impartially to ensure elections are free from violence and inducements, allowing voters to cast their votes without fear or favour.
The personnel deployed include nearly 15 lakh polling personnel, 8.5 lakh security personnel, 40,000 counting personnel, 49,000 micro observers, 21,000 sector officers, and 15,000 micro-observers for counting, among others.
The field-level election machinery, including over 2.18 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs), will assist voters via phone calls and the "Book-a-Call to BLO" facility on the ECINet App. A call centre at +91 (STD Code) 1950 is also available for registering complaints or queries at the DEO/RO level.
All deployed personnel will be considered on deputation to the Election Commission as per Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
A total of 1,111 Central Observers have been appointed across 832 Assembly Constituencies, including 557 General Observers, 188 Police Observers, and 366 Expenditure Observers. Most of them have already reached their assigned constituencies.
The Observers will share their contact details and meet candidates, political parties, their representatives, and the public at specified times daily to address election-related grievances.
(Source: Election Commission)
(File Photo)
