Kerala Assembly elections: Unions allege about 750 polling officials in Ernakulam ‘denied’ right to vote

Nearly 750 government officials in Ernakulam district who were on polling duties were unable to cast their votes in the Kerala Assembly elections due to lapses in the issuance of postal ballots, employees unions have alleged. The forums released the figure even as the issue has triggered Statewide protests and led to litigation.

A total of 743 officials, who were deployed across the district for polling duties, could not exercise their franchise, as per the data collected by the NGO Union and the Joint Council, two prominent unions backed by the CPI(M) and the CPI respectively. These include officials deployed in the posts of presiding officers and above. Sources with the Congress-backed NGO Association also concurred with the figure.