New Delhi, March 17 The Election Commission (EC) has deployed 1,111 observers for the state assembly elections and assembly bypolls to be held next month.
While elections for the assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are scheduled, assembly by-elections in several states are also planned for April.
The observers will act as the eyes and ears of the EC, ensuring that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, the poll panel said.
The EC has directed that the observers should be stationed in their respective assembly constituencies by Thursday.
Upon arrival, the observers will make their contact details public and will specify a fixed time each day for meeting candidates, political parties, or their representatives, or any member of the public, to hear election-related grievances, the EC said.