EC appoints 3833 micro observers for first phase polls

Bangalore, May 8 (UNI) The Election Commission of India has deployed 3833 micro observers to ensure free and fair conduct of assembly election in 89 constituencies that goes to poll in the first phase on May 10.

The official sources said the micro observers had been drawn from Central government and Public Sector units and being deployed for the first time in the state to specifically function inside the polling stations on the day of election.

The micro observers would oversee the proceedings inside the polling booths and report directly to the General Observers stationed at the constituency level in a specific format meant for the purpose.

Out of the eleven districts where the first phase polls is held, in Mandya alone the EC has appointed 450 such micro observers.

Mandya District Deputy Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad told UNI that micro observers would come to the polling stations at 0600 hrs on the day of voting and conduct a mock drill on voting proceedings with EVMs and erase it before the real voting process starts at 0700 hrs.

They would report any unusual incidents inside the booths from 0600 hrs to 1900 hrs, if found, to the General Observer, he said.

The General Observers were drawn from the IAS category for observing and ensuring purity of election process, he said.

UNI SIV RS GM1419