The State Election Commission (SEC) has appointed Iqbal Singh Chahal, additional chief secretary (home), as the observer for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on January 15. Chahal, a former BMC commissioner, will be supported by three additional collectors as assistant observers to ensure oversight. The SEC also named IAS officers as observers for 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra, with special observers appointed for Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, and Bhiwandi-Nizampur.