Election Commission briefs 1,444 Central Observers for Assembly elections in five states and UTs
The Election Commission of India concluded briefing 1,444 Central Observers for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal at IIIDEM on 6 February 2026.
Summary
The Election Commission of India concluded two days of briefings, on 5 and 6 February 2026, for Central Observers to be deployed in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). The 1,444 officers comprised 714 General Observers, 233 Police Observers and 497 Expenditure Observers. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, told them there is no scope for deviation from the law and ECI instructions. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction and control of elections is vested in the Election Commission.
Key facts
- Dates and venue
- 5–6 February 2026, IIIDEM
- States/UT
- Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
- Observers
- 1,444 = 714 General + 233 Police + 497 Expenditure
- Commission
- CEC Gyanesh Kumar; ECs S.S. Sandhu, Vivek Joshi
- Constitution
- Article 324 — superintendence, direction and control of elections
Practice MCQs 2 questions
How many Central Observers did the ECI brief on 5–6 February 2026 for the forthcoming Assembly elections?
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Correct answer: C — 1,444
1,444 officers attended: 714 General, 233 Police and 497 Expenditure Observers.
Consider the following: 1. Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission. 2. The Central Observers briefed in February 2026 were for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The fifth state was West Bengal, not Karnataka.