EC appoints Odisha-cadre IPS officer as police observer for West Bengal polls

The Election Commission of India appointed IPS officer Sarvana Vivek M as police observer for West Bengal Assembly polls, tasking him to oversee security arrangements during two-phase elections scheduled on April 23 and 29

Kolkata: The Election Commission appointed IPS officer Sarvana Vivek M as police observer for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, according to a notification.

Vivek, a 2015-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre, will oversee police related arrangements during the two-phase polls, said the notification issued on Sunday.

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“In exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission hereby appoints you as its Police Observer for the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026,” it said.

The officer will be on deputation to the EC during the period of his assignment and will function under its “control, superintendence and discipline”, it added.

Vivek will be stationed at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata, and is required to submit inputs to the EC from time to time, in line with its directives, the notification said.

“The timeline of duty will start from the date of your appointment, and will end on the date of completion of the election,” the notification said.

West Bengal will vote on April 23 and 29, and the counting will be held on May 4.