Guwahati: A full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Assam on Monday for a three-day comprehensive review of preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Sources indicate that the state may head to the polls in March–April before the current House’s term ends on May 20.
The high-level delegation includes Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. Upon arrival in Guwahati, the team was received by Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel.
Officials said the Commission will hold structured consultations with leaders of recognised political parties to assess concerns relating to voter rolls, Model Code of Conduct enforcement, campaign regulations and polling logistics.
Meetings are also scheduled with senior election officials and regulatory authorities to evaluate institutional readiness.
District election officers and Superintendents of Police from across Assam are slated to present detailed reports before the Commission, outlining constituency-level arrangements.
Briefings are expected to cover deployment of central and state security forces, identification of vulnerable polling stations, transportation and storage of electronic voting machines, and preparedness in remote, char and riverine regions.
Sources indicated that the Commission will further interact with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Chief Electoral Officer, police nodal officers and other senior administrators to examine law-and-order strategies, inter-agency coordination, and contingency mechanisms for sensitive areas.
The visit is being viewed as a critical administrative audit before the formal announcement of the election schedule. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners are expected to address the media on February 18, the concluding day of the visit.
The 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly is likely to witness a closely watched electoral contest, with preparations now under direct scrutiny of the country’s top election authority to ensure a free, fair and peaceful mandate.