Kolkata, 13 April (H.S.) : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed an Odisha-cadre IPS officer as Police Observer in West Bengal to strengthen security arrangements ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to an official notification, Saravana Vivek M, a 2015-batch IPS officer, will oversee all police-related arrangements during the two-phase elections in the state. The appointment has been made under the provisions of Article 324 of the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

As per the ECI’s directive, the officer will remain on deputation during the election period and function under the Commission’s control, supervision, and disciplinary framework. He will be responsible for monitoring law-and-order preparedness and ensuring compliance with election-related security protocols.

The notification further stated that his posting will be at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata. He will regularly submit reports and inputs to the Commission throughout the election period.

It has also been clarified that his tenure will begin from the date of appointment and continue until the completion of the entire electoral process.

West Bengal is scheduled to go to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes slated for May 4. The Commission has been taking a series of administrative and monitoring measures to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh