The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) has appointed 28 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers as General Observers to supervise the upcoming local body elections across the state. In addition, 28 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers have been designated as Expenditure Observers and assigned to different districts to monitor election-related spending.
The appointments are aimed at strengthening supervision, transparency and accountability during the electoral process while ensuring strict implementation of election rules and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha briefed the appointed General Observers during a meeting held on Thursday, October 15, and instructed them to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, peaceful and impartial manner.
He emphasised that election officials must remain vigilant throughout the process and take appropriate steps to prevent violations, irregularities and any attempts to influence voters.
Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Force, SEC Orders Strict Monitoring
Addressing the officers, Mr Punetha said that the Model Code of Conduct had come into force following the announcement of the election schedule.
He directed the General Observers to ensure that all election-related rules and guidelines are strictly followed by officials, political parties and candidates.
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The observers have been instructed to closely monitor possible violations of the MCC and ensure that appropriate action is taken wherever necessary.
The State Election Commissioner stressed that election management must remain impartial and transparent, with equal opportunities provided to all contestants.
He also asked the observers to guide election officials at various administrative levels and ensure that the prescribed procedures are implemented effectively.
According to the SEC’s directions, the General Observers will play an important role in monitoring the functioning of the election machinery and identifying issues that could affect the fairness of polling.
28 IAS Officers Appointed as General Observers: Names
The State Election Commission has appointed 28 IAS officers as General Observers for the local body elections.
- S Nagalakshmi
- M Seshagiribabu
- KVN Chakradhar Babu
- K Kannababu
- MM Nayak
- Ch Sridhar
- Manjeer Jilani
- Hebsiba Rani
- Ranjit Basha
- Sivasankar Lotheti
- Shanmohan
- M Gouthami
- P Arun Babu
- P Prasanthi
- Lavanya Veni
- Bhargavi
- JV Murali
- TS Chetan
- Kurmanath
- R Gopalakrishna
- Praveen Aditya
- Tej Bharath
- Geethanjali Sharma
While the SEC has reportedly appointed 28 IAS officers, the information currently available identifies 23 by name. The remaining five names have not been provided in the source material.
These officers will be responsible for supervising different aspects of the election process and ensuring that electoral procedures are followed in accordance with the applicable rules.
28 IFS Officers Appointed as Expenditure Observers
Apart from the IAS officers appointed as General Observers, the Andhra Pradesh SEC has also appointed 28 Indian Forest Service officers as Expenditure Observers.
These officers have been assigned to different districts to supervise election-related expenditure and support compliance with the applicable financial rules.
Their deployment is intended to strengthen oversight of campaign spending and help prevent expenditure-related irregularities during the elections.
The names and district-wise assignments of the 28 IFS officers were not included in the information provided.
With the two appointments, the SEC has deployed a total of 56 IAS and IFS officers in observer roles for the local body elections.
SEC Highlights Importance of Poll Management App
During the meeting, Mr Punetha highlighted the importance of the Poll Management App developed by the State Election Commission.
The application has been designed to facilitate the sharing of important election-related information and assist officials in managing various aspects of the polling process.
The app provides information concerning voter management, polling stations and election procedures.
By making relevant information available through a digital platform, the SEC aims to improve coordination among election officials and support more effective monitoring of electoral arrangements.
Mr Punetha urged the General Observers to make effective use of the application while carrying out their assigned responsibilities.
The emphasis on digital tools reflects the commission’s efforts to strengthen election administration through timely information-sharing and improved coordination.
Observers Directed to Coordinate With District Police for Security
The State Election Commissioner also instructed the General Observers to coordinate closely with district police authorities to ensure adequate security arrangements.
He said the deployment of appropriate security personnel and coordination between civil and police authorities would be important for maintaining peace during the election process.
The observers have been asked to ensure that necessary preventive measures are taken to avoid disturbances and other untoward incidents.
Mr Punetha stressed that voters should be able to exercise their democratic rights freely and without intimidation.
He specifically directed officials to create an environment in which every voter can cast a ballot without fear, pressure or inducement.
The instructions underline the SEC’s focus on protecting voters’ rights and ensuring that the election process remains accessible and impartial.
General Observers to Ensure Transparency and Accountability
The General Observers have been entrusted with monitoring compliance with election procedures and supervising the conduct of officials involved in the electoral process.
Their responsibilities include keeping watch over the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, identifying procedural violations and ensuring that the election machinery functions impartially.
They are also expected to maintain coordination with district administrations and other authorities to address issues that could affect the conduct of polling.
The SEC has emphasised that all political parties and candidates must follow the prescribed rules and that the electoral process should provide a level playing field for contestants.
Mr Punetha urged the appointed officers to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, restraint and professionalism.
SEC Focuses on Free, Fair and Peaceful Local Body Elections
The appointment of 28 IAS officers as General Observers and 28 IFS officers as Expenditure Observers forms part of the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission’s preparations for the local body elections.
The deployment is intended to strengthen administrative supervision, expenditure monitoring, security coordination and compliance with election rules.
By emphasising strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, effective use of the Poll Management App and protection of voters from intimidation or inducement, the SEC has outlined its priorities for the electoral process.
The commission has called upon the appointed observers to ensure that the elections are conducted transparently and impartially, maintaining public confidence in the democratic process.
