Guwahati, March 11: A central observer of the Election Commission of India (EC) for the first phase of the Assam Assembly polls has tested positive for the coronavirus, following which the poll panel appointed a new observer in his place, officials said on Wednesday.

Eastern Assam’s Jorhat district Deputy Commissioner Roshni Aparanji Korati said that after the ECI’s general observer Manjeet Singh Brar tested Covid positive on Tuesday on his arrival in the district, the commission has appointed a new observer immediately.

Earlier, Brar reached Dibrugarh airport on Monday from Punjab and then moved to Jorhat by road Tuesday.

as per the direction of the EC, all the officials coming from outside in Assam to supervise the Assembly elections have to undergo swab sample test for Covid-19 immediately after their reporting in the district.

The Assembly constituencies in Jorhat district are going to polls in the first phase on March 27.