Collector threatens action on officials bunking election duty

MUMBAI: Suburban District Collector Rajendra Kshirsagar has initiated action against 789 officials who remained absent for election training and are set to bunk poll duty.

Kshirsagar said he has over 7,000 booths and four parliamentary constituencies and needs nearly 40,000 personnel for election duty. “We have found that 789 persons have not come so far. We have issued notices to them for failing to turn up for training. We will organise another training for them. We will see who fails to turn up and then I will direct filing of FIRS against them as per sections of The Representation of the People Act,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, in the city collectorate, collector Sanjay Yadav said, “I am taking a review of how many people did not come for training. Defaulters will face action.’’

The city colllectorate has two parliamentary constituencies and needs 12,500 staff for 2509 polling stations. “We have completed training for some of the staffers. We will review how many have avoided election duty.”

The EC’S plan to enlist doctors for poll duty was abandoned after protests from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, as contractual staff cannot be used for this purpose.

The reduction in regular staff in government and corporations over the years has created pressure on regular officers, who are now required to fulfill duties as district election officers. Training sessions for poll duty in Raigad district are scheduled for April 5 and 6, and in Thane district, they will take place on April 7.