In a significant move to uphold the integrity of the democratic process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed two senior officers as Observers for the Vice-Presidential Election 2025.
Exercising its authority under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the ECI has named Sushil Kumar Lohani, IAS (OD:1995), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and D. Anandan, IAS (SK:2000), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, to oversee the election process. Additionally, Nitin Kumar Shivdas Khade, IAS (AM:2004), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, has been placed on the reserve list.
The Vice-Presidential Election, scheduled for September 9, 2025, as notified by the ECI on August 7, 2025, will see both polling and vote counting conducted on the same day.
The appointment of these high-ranking officials underscores the ECI’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. The Observers will monitor the proceedings to maintain compliance with electoral guidelines and address any irregularities that may arise.