The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Sunday the deployment of Central Observers – General, Police, and Expenditure – for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and bye-elections in eight assembly segments across the country, including Budgam and Nagrota constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
This deployment falls under the plenary powers of the Commission as per Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The ECI aims to oversee and ensure the smooth conduct of elections in each constituency.
Weeks of speculation regarding the schedule of long-pending bye-elections in J&K’s 90-member Legislative Assembly ended with this announcement. The Nagrota seat became vacant after the sudden demise of BJP legislator and senior leader Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024, shortly after the Assembly election results were declared on October 8, 2024. Many speculate that his daughter, Devyani Rana, may be a potential BJP candidate, although no announcements have been made as yet.
On the other hand, the Budgam seat was vacated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 21, 2024. Abdullah contested from both Budgam and his family’s stronghold of Ganderbal, ultimately choosing to retain the latter. The National Conference appears to be in a strong position in Budgam, although no candidates are finalized.
The ECI has deployed a total of 470 officers, comprising 320 from the IAS, 60 from the IPS, and 90 from IRS/IRAS/ICAS services as observers across Bihar and the eight other states/UTs where bye-elections are set to take place. These observers act as the eyes and ears of the Commission, responsible for ensuring fairness, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process.
Their specific responsibilities include:
- Monitoring conduct of polls under the ECI’s superintendence.
- Overseeing law and order, campaign conduct, and management of elections.
- Tracking candidates’ election expenditure to curb malpractice.
- Enhancing voter awareness and participation.
“The observers are entrusted with the crucial responsibility of upholding the impartiality and credibility of elections – the bedrock of democratic polity,” stated the ECI.
The Commission is likely to schedule the Bihar Assembly election by mid-October. In addition, it has already set October 24, 2025, for biennial elections to fill four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir.
