Govt staff rue delay in issuing postal ballots

“The polling of postal votes had drastically reduced during this election due to poor co-ordination by the public election department. About 40 to 50 per cent of government employees have still not voted in this poll,” A Mayavan, state coordinator, JACTTO-GEO told DT Next.

Expressing suspicion that it could be planned attempt to ensure that the government employees do not vote, Mayavan said, “All the usual practices were not adopted. Earlier the postal vote forms would reach the government employees to their given address. There is also the practice of keeping postal ballot boxes during the election training given for the government staff. Both these practices were not followed by poll officials this time for unknown reasons.”

He said JACTTO-GEO members met the Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo and discussed the issue. “However, he failed to give an encouraging reply. He directed us to reach out to the zonal officials on poll duty, but the latter are hesitant. Though we still have time to vote as the counting is only on May 23, there is no response from the election department,” Mayavan rued.

“There are about 12.5 lakh government employees in the state and most of them are upset over the issue. The ECI talks about ensuring 100 per cent voting, but this is an act which is done to reduce the polling percentage,” said a revenue department official, requesting anonymity.