Election Commission Names Special Observers for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Polls

Overview

• Pratap Singh, a former Indian Revenue Service officer, has been appointed Special Observer for Tamil Nadu to supervise the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and assess poll readiness for the 2026 assembly election.
• Retired 1988-batch IPS officer NK Mishra will serve as Special Observer for West Bengal under Section 13CC of the Representation of the People Act, functioning under the Commission’s control and discipline.
• The Commission cited its powers under Article 324 in Mishra’s appointment letter and directed periodic visits with inputs to be submitted directly to the Commission.
• Both observers must coordinate travel and reviews with the respective Chief Electoral Officers, who will provide logistical and protocol support.
• The Commission barred observers from issuing appreciation letters to election officials, requiring any commendation proposals to be routed to the Commission; Deccan Chronicle reported the EC also summoned West Bengal chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty over alleged SIR non-compliance.