K J Rao, who oversaw the Bihar elections, is among the 19 observers deputed by the Election Commission to oversee the ongoing revisions of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the assembly polls.

EC sources said that one observer had been appointed for each district and that they would reach the district headquarters on January nine to hold meetings with political parties.

They would also undertake field visits from January 11 to 16.

The observers would submit a report and brief the Commission on January 18, the sources said.

During their visit, the observers would check the electoral rolls and the distribution of Electoral Photo Identity Cards.

The Commission had last week asked poll officials in the state to undertake a thorough  verification of the exercise to ensure the cards reached genuine voters.

In a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, the EC had said the five EC teams that toured the state recently found 'glaring irregularities' in some distribution cases.