Amit Shah has been appointed as the Central Observer for West Bengal, while Jagat Prakash Nadda will oversee Assam for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
These appointments, announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI), aim to ensure fair and peaceful polling in these states, considered politically sensitive. Shah’s assignment to West Bengal is particularly noteworthy given the history of electoral violence in the state.
Other key appointments include:
* **Bhupender Yadav:** Chhattisgarh
* **Pralhad Joshi:** Karnataka
* **Kiren Rijiju:** Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim
* **Annpurna Devi:** Jharkhand
* **Gajendra Singh Shekhawat:** Madhya Pradesh
* **Vinod Tawde:** Goa & Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
* **Sunil Bansal:** Telangana
* **Dushyant Gautam:** Odisha
* **Tarun Chugh:** Punjab
* **Geeta Kora:** Manipur
* **Lal Singh Arya:** Rajasthan
* **Rajeev Pratap Rudy:** Bihar
* **Mithilesh Kumar:** Uttar Pradesh
These observers, primarily BJP leaders, will be responsible for monitoring election preparations, addressing grievances, and ensuring adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. They will work alongside state election machinery and report directly to the ECI.
The ECI has also deployed Special Observers in certain states, including West Bengal, to provide additional oversight. These Special Observers are former civil servants with extensive experience in election management.
The appointments are part of a larger effort by the ECI to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process across the country. The observers will play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the elections and building public trust in the democratic process. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, beginning April 19th.
