EC bans leave for govt employees involved in election process

Lucknow, Mar 12 (UNI) The Election Commission has cancelled leave of all government employees who are directly or indirectly involved in the seven phase assembly polls in the state.

EC has also put restrictions on the number of people allowed inside the returning officer (RO) room by each candidate during the filing of nomination papers, and fixed the number at five.

State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here today that according to the standard norm, leaves of government employees involved in the elections directly or indirectly stands cancelled till the election process was completed.

About one lakh government employees, mostly of the central sector, would be engaged in the polling process in the state.

He said as per the directive of the EC, only five person including the candidate would be allowed to enter the RO room during filing of the nominations while only three vehicles would be allowed near the nomination centre.

The CEO said a new software has been developed for random selection of polling personnel for the election duty.

''The new software will end the anomolies on selecting the polling personnel,'' he said, adding that the software has been sent to all the districts.

Meanwhile, Mr Bishnoi will be going to New Delhi tomorrow to attend a meeting of the CEOs in connection with the Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

It is also believed that the CEO will hold meeting with the EC on various issues related to the seven phase assembly election in the state.

Tomorrow, UP Governor T V Rajeswar will issue the notification for the first phase of assembly elections to 62 seats.

UNI