May not get chance to vote in panchayat election, apprehend poll staff from villages

A large number of residents of some rural areas performing election duty are apprehensive that they may not be able to exercise their right to vote during the panchayat election at their respective villages.

They have urged the authorities at their respective election office to do the needful to enable them to cast their vote either through postal ballot or some alternative mode.

The authorities at election offices on the other hand have shown their helplessness in the matter as the elections are being conducted strictly according to the guidelines of the state election commission.

“However, we have updated our seniors about the issue raised by the staff attending the first rehearsal for polling today,” responded an executive magistrate looking after arrangements at Ahmedgarh subdivision.

A visit to the venues of the first rehearsal for the staff deployed on election duty for polling scheduled to be held on October 15 revealed that a large number of government personnel hailing from villages had apprehended deprivation of their right to vote as no postal ballot or other information about mode of casting vote had reached them by now.

Acknowledging genuineness of the issue raised by government personnel, Harwinder Singh Dhindsa and Rupinder Singh Grewal, state presidents of the Punjab Revenue Patwar Union and Punjab Kanungo Union, respectively, alleged that thousands of government employees performing election duty and hailing from villages would be deprived of their right to participate in the democratic process of constitution of panchayats of their respective localities.

“Many members of our union and government employees deployed on election duty have accused the government of snatching their right to vote for the lowest rung of the democracy,” said Dhindsa, adding that several employees came from families contesting election at their respective villages.

“As there is cut-throat competition at several villages for the election to the posts of sarpanch and panch, these employees fear that their family may have to face disgrace if they are defeated by a single vote,” said Dhindsa.