India, Feb. 6 -- The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday briefed its general, police and expenditure observers to be deployed as central observers in poll-bound Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and the UT of Puducherry.

The terms of these assemblies are ending on various dates in May and June, and the poll schedule could be announced in the coming weeks. The EC appoints central observers under the plenary powers conferred on it by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to assist the Commission in the conduct of free and fair polls. The EC said 1,444 officers, including 714 general observers, 233 police observers and 497 expenditure observers, were called for the briefing meet...