Bhopal: Over 25 IAS officers from Madhya Pradesh will attend a poll observers’ training program in Delhi today, as part of preparations for upcoming elections in Assam and other poll-bound states. The move has raised concerns about administrative functioning in the state, as several key officers will be temporarily away from their duties.
Election Commission Organizes Training
The Election Commission (EC) has organized a training session for poll observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in various states, scheduled to begin on Thursday. The session aims to brief officers on election procedures, monitoring responsibilities, and reporting mechanisms.
According to sources, a large number of IAS officers from Madhya Pradesh will participate in the training in Delhi.
Key Officers Attending Training
Some of the prominent IAS officers attending the training include:
- Deepak Saxena – Public Relations Commissioner
- Manish Singh – Transport Secretary
- Nishant Warwade – Agriculture Secretary
- Lokesh Jatav – Finance Secretary
- Rajiv Ranjan Meena – Director of Finance
- Bhaskar Lakshakar – Commissioner of Treasury
- Rohit Singh – Additional Secretary of Finance
- Shriman Shukla – Secretary of Planning and Statistics
- Swatantra Kumar Singh – Secretary of Fisheries Welfare
- Buddhesh Vaidya – Secretary of Board of Secondary Education
Additional officers are also expected to join, as the EC seeks to deploy experienced administrative officials as election observers.
State Government’s Request Ignored
Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government had requested the EC to exempt officers holding key administrative positions from poll observer duties, citing concerns over governance and continuity of work.
However, the EC did not accept the request, and has instructed that all officers listed must attend the training in Delhi.
Change in Observer Appointment Process
- Previously, state governments submitted a list of officers to the EC, which then assigned election observer duties.
- Typically, officers managing important departments were kept exempt from election duties.
- Now, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) directly provides the list to the EC, ending state interference in selecting poll observers.
This procedural change ensures that the EC has full control over the deployment of officers for election duties, strengthening impartiality and uniformity across states.
Impact on State Administration
With over 25 senior IAS officers away for training and subsequent election duty, key administrative functions in Madhya Pradesh may face temporary disruptions. Departments such as finance, agriculture, planning, and transport will need to adjust workloads and responsibilities during this period.
Read also: ACC Empanels 24 IAS Officers of 2010 Batch for Joint Secretary-Level Posts – Chcek List Here
