ECI team to visit Ranchi, MCC will be in enforced soon for Assembly polls

With the Jharkhand Assembly elections approaching, preparations are in full swing as the Election Commission of India (ECI) prepares to enforce the model code of conduct. A team from the ECI, including Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and two other election commissioners, is set to visit Ranchi on September 23 for a two-day review of the state’s election readiness. The visit will focus on ensuring a smooth and secure electoral process ahead of the polls.

In anticipation of the commission’s visit, Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer and Inspector General (Operations) held a meeting with district SPs and DCs on Friday to discuss the security arrangements and logistical needs. This meeting also reviewed the basic facilities for security forces and the status of unresolved cases from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The aim is to ensure that all necessary measures are in place for a transparent and fair election process.

As part of pre-election preparations, police officers who had been stationed in the same district for over three years have been transferred, following a directive from the ECI. These transfers were finalized during a State Police Establishment Council meeting on August 18. Police inspectors, station heads, and SPs who had been serving in the same district for more than three years were reassigned to prevent undue influence on the upcoming elections. The transfers of IPS and IAS officers, however, are expected to be handled by the Election Commission rather than the state government, in line with ECI regulations.

The ECI had specifically instructed the completion of these transfers before the assembly elections to ensure fairness in the electoral process. With the state gearing up for the elections, the commission’s visit to Jharkhand will finalize the steps necessary for a smooth and orderly election.