Polling officials denied voting in Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency?

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Several officials posted on election duty in Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency were allegedly denied an opportunity to cast their votes though they have the option of voting in the polling booths where they were posted.

The Assistant returning officer (ARO) at a polling booth is supposed to issue Elections Duty Certificate (EDC) to the polling officials to enable them to cast their votes at the booths they are manning. However, there were several complaints that the certificates were not issued to the polling officials at many places despite providing all documents and filling up Form 120, denying them a chance to cast their votes.

Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag C T said EDCs were given to all those who had applied.

It is alleged that the officials were denied voting apprehending that they may cast their votes for a particular candidate or party and that the EDCs were denied to them deliberately though the data was generated in the computers. However, those who did not fill up Form 120 were allowed to vote, it is learnt.

District Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag C T has said has said that action will be taken against the officials concerned if those who were denied voting file a specific complaint. “Some of the officials allege that EDCs were not given to them. But, on the other hand, the EDCs were given to all those who had applied”, she said.