“How can we pre-empt that an officer is incapable of conducting free and fair elections? If there is a history of violence or law-and-order problems during past elections under an officer’s jurisdiction, that could be a criterion. The poll panel has so far removed 31 IPS officers, including the director-general of police, police commissioners and other senior officers directly involved in the electoral process. Of the 31 officers, the EC initially wanted 15 to be sent to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Nagaland as election observers. The latest directive — asking for a list of officers “incapable” of ensuring free and fair elections — has left many senior officers uneasy.

Source: The Telegraph March 24, 2026 02:20 UTC