EC names special observers for SIR drive in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday appointed ex-IPS officer N K Mishra and ex-IRS officer Pratap Singh as special observers for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively, tasking them with overseeing the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral roll as well as the preparedness and conduct of impending assembly poll in the two states. Polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala as well as the Union territory of Puducherry are expected to be held in April-May. EC usually appoints special observers after announcement of Lok Sabha/assembly poll schedule. “As a special observer, you will oversee that the process of special intensive revision is strictly as per the directions of the commission issued from time to time. You will be required to visit West Bengal/Tamil Nadu from time to time to observe the ongoing SIR….poll preparedness and the conduct of forthcoming general election to the legislative assembly of West Bengal/Tamil Nadu, 2026 and give your inputs to the commission for necessary action,” EC said in separate communications sent to Mishra and Singh on Friday.Mishra, a Sikkim cadre IPS officer of 1988 batch, had served as DGP of Sikkim and as special director in the Intelligence Bureau. He had also served as special police observer in Maharashtra during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. West Bengal has a history of poll violence and clashes between political workers of rival parties. Mishra, as special observer, will be keeping a watch on law and order in the state as well as observance of EC’s guidelines and directions for free and fair conduct of assembly polls, including those relating to deployment of Central paramilitary forces. Singh, a 1991 batch IRS officer, had served as Director General, Income Tax (Investigation) in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is known for high and unaccounted poll expenditure; in 2019 Lok Sabha election, the EC had cancelled the poll in Vellore parliamentary constituency due to excessive use of money power to influence voters. Earlier in 2016, assembly polls in two constituencies - Thanjavur and Aravakurichi — were cancelled on the same grounds, followed by rescinding of election in R K Nagar assembly constituency in 2017. The EC asked the two retired officers — who will be under EC’s superintendence and control and shall receive an honorarium — to visit their respective states in coordination with the chief electoral officer concerned. As per EC rules, special observers are paid a base slab of Rs 1 lakh for a two-week deployment, which goes up by Rs 25,000 with each extra week of deployment.