Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Thursday instructed officers appointed as central observers for the upcoming assembly polls in four states and a UT to act impartially, ensure compliance with all electoral laws and extant EC guidelines, and be the eyes and ears of the panel by reporting any electoral malpractice that comes to their notice.Addressing central observers at India International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) here, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said they had been picked by EC to act as its beacons for the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. He asked them to ensure free, fair and transparent polls, and stressed that their presence is crucial to energise the entire election machinery across 824 constituencies spanning the poll-going states and UT.Polls in the four states and Puducherry are likely to be held in April-May. A total of 1,444 observers are to be briefed in three batches on Thursday and Friday.West Bengal home secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena and Howrah police commissioner Praveen Kumar Tripathi are among the 25 IAS and IPS officers appointed by EC as central observers.EC also held a doubt-clearing session. Senior officials briefed the observers on aspects of preparation of electoral rolls among others.