**Executive Summary**
On April 1, 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) held a review meeting for 282 Central Observers deployed for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The briefing aimed to ensure the delivery of free, fair, and peaceful elections scheduled for April 9, 2026. Key instructions included the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, oversight of polling officer training, and the verification of essential facilities at polling stations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Observer Deployment and Statistics**
* A total of 282 Central Observers (comprising 119 General, 56 Police, and 107 Expenditure Observers) are deployed across 296 Assembly Constituencies (ACs).
* **Assam:** 136 Observers for 126 ACs.
* **Kerala:** 108 Observers for 140 ACs.
* **Puducherry:** 38 Observers for 30 ACs.
**Election Conduct and Enforcement**
* Observers are instructed to ensure elections are held in a festive mood, devoid of intimidation, violence, or inducement.
* Strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is mandatory, with a requirement for prompt action on all violation complaints.
* Observers must well-publicize their contact numbers and the schedule for hearing complaints from the public, candidates, and political agents.
**Polling Station Readiness and Facilities**
* Observers must ensure "assured minimum facilities" are available at all polling stations, specifically mentioning benches for voter queues and mobile phone deposit facilities.
* Arrangements for webcasting monitoring control rooms must be checked, including the conduct of trial runs with trained staff to flag potential errors.
**Operational Supervision of Polling Personnel**
* Observers are directed to oversee the training of Presiding Officers, focusing on the proper application of indelible ink and the deletion of mock poll data.
* Mandatory emphasis on the voter turnout module of ECINET, requiring timely 2-hourly data feeding and the reporting of "close of poll" turnout.
* Ensure that Form 17-C is correctly filled and shared with polling agents at the close of the poll.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Observers (General, Police, and Expenditure)**
**Impact**
They are responsible for the direct oversight of the electoral process and must act as the primary point of contact for grievances.
**Action Required**
Publicize contact details/hearing times, conduct trial runs of webcasting systems, and supervise the enforcement of the MCC and polling station readiness.
**Presiding Officers**
**Impact**
Their technical performance and adherence to procedural protocols are under heightened scrutiny.
**Action Required**
Complete training on ECINET data entry, ensure 2-hourly voter turnout updates, properly apply indelible ink, and manage Form 17-C and mock poll data according to regulations.
**Public, Candidates, and Political Parties**
**Impact**
These stakeholders are provided with direct channels to report violations and are guaranteed improved facilities at polling stations.
**Action Required**
Monitor publicized observer schedules to report complaints or attend hearings regarding election violations.
**Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry**
**Impact**
They must coordinate closely with the ECI and Central Observers to implement regional election directives.
**Action Required**
Facilitate the videoconferencing briefings and ensure the logistics for observers and polling station facilities are finalized before the April 9 deadline.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the conduct of elections and briefing the observers.
Central Observers: Key officials (General, Police, and Expenditure) deployed to ensure free and fair elections and oversee enforcement of regulations.
Model Code of Conduct: A set of regulatory guidelines issued by the ECI that the observers are tasked with strictly enforcing during the election.
Assam, Kerala and Puducherry: The specific states and Union Territory where the Legislative Assembly elections are being held and where observers are deployed.
Election Commission
ECI briefs Central Observers in view of the
ongoing General Election to the Legislative
Assemblies of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 4:14PM by PIB Delhi
1. Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S.S.
Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, today held a review meeting for the Central Observers (General,
Police, Expenditure) deployed across the States of Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of
Puducherry, where Assembly Elections are scheduled to be held on April 9, 2026.
2. A total of 282 Central Observers along with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Assam, Kerala
and Puducherry attended the briefing through videoconferencing. Details of the Observers are as
follows:
NUMBER OF CENTRAL OBSERVERS DEPLOYED IN GENERAL ELECTIONS in
ASSAM,
KERALA and PUDUCHERRY
No. of No. of No. of Total
Name of No. General Police Expenditure Central
the of Observers Observers Observers Observers
State/UT ACs deployed deployed
deployed Deployed
Assam 126 51 35 50 136
Kerala 140 51 17 40 108
Puducherry 30 17 4 17 38
TOTAL 296 119 56 107 282
3. The Commission instructed the Observers to ensure that Elections are held in a festive mood, free
& fair and free of any kind of intimidation, violence & inducement.
4. The Commission also emphasised upon the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and
prompt action in case of any complaints of violations.
5. The observers were also asked to well publicise their contact numbers and place and time of
hearing the complaints from the public/political parties/candidates or their agents.6. They were also directed to oversee if trainings of Presiding Officers have been done properly with
special emphasis on timely feeding of 2-hourly and close of poll voter turnout and other data on
voter turnout module of ECINET, proper application of indelible ink, filling up of form 17-C and
sharing with the polling agents present at close of poll, deletion of mock poll data amongst others.
7. Observers were also directed to ensure availability of assured minimum facilities at all polling
stations including mobile phone deposit facility and benches in voter queues.
8. Webcasting monitoring control room arrangements should be properly checked and trial run
conducted in presence of all the staff posted there for monitoring, who should be well trained to
identify and flag errors, if any.
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