MP Polls: Govt employees cast vote through postal ballot

Government employees hailing from Madhya Pradesh on Sunday cast their vote through postal ballot, ahead of upcoming state polls.

Large number of government employees who would be on the election duty on the day of voting, including those from security forces through the postal ballot facility are casting their votes.

The voting is taking place at city's Lal Parade ground and voters have lined up since early morning to exercise their democratic right.

The special arrangement of Postal Ballot has been made because these government employees would otherwise be bereft of voting owing to their official deployment on the day of main elections.

Sharing details of the postal ballot voting Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Sahu said, "Today this day has been completely kept for postal ballots. Personnel from the police department, special armed forces (SAF), home guards, special police officers are taking part in these postal ballots. They had already filled form 12 and based on that they have been called today to exercise their democratic right. The process started in the morning and will continue till evening."

He also informed that there are over five thousand employees who would be using postal ballots today.

However, the people queued up to cast their votes also complained of long delays.

One such voter said, "We were called at 8 am in the morning. I am still in the queue. People are entering in between and no one is listening to us."

Another voter standing in the queue added, "There is no arrangement of even drinking water here, we are standing in the line since morning 8 am. It has been about 6-7 hours and I am not sure when I will be able to cast my vote."

On being asked about the reported mismanagement, Sahu said "It takes some time to cast one's vote through postal ballot. After casting the vote on a paper, they have to put it in an envelope. Hence the process takes some time, otherwise, there is no such problem, and the arrangements are good."

The postal ballot voting is being held 10 days before the assembly polls in the state.

Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 to elect 230 members of the legislative assembly. The results will be declared on December 11.