My Fourth Election Duty as Presiding Officer Author; Dr. K.S. Kang

My Fourth Election Duty as a Presiding Officer

Author : Dr. K.S. Kang

My last election duty as a presiding officer was at a town Mangalwar on Chittorgarh- Udaipur Highway. This place was nearly 50 kms away from the district headquarter. The polling party was to stay in the building of the school of the village. In fact there were two schools in the village situated at a distance of roughly 2kms from each other. So the school that was situated in the heart of the village had two polling parties whose presiding officers were also my colleagues Dr. Mohd. Shamsuddin, of Department of Chemistry and Mr. C.N. Sharma Librarian of our college. Our destination was in the school that was just besides the highway known as  Chauraha as there was intersection of four roads going from this place to Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Doongla and Nimbahera. In this school also there were two polling parties. One of them was headed by me while the other was led by Dr. C.S. Rawat also of Department of Chemistry of our college. Unfortunately now he is no more but he was a lively human being and a thorough gentleman. A couple of days spent with him are perhaps one of the finest moments of my life. He was very much interested in music and cooking. He brought with him not only the emergency light with cassette player and cassettes but he had also brought cooking oil, pulses, other cereals and even spices from his home and of course a portable gas stove. He used to cook dishes with great concentration and finery that I relished this duty very much. Once one of member of his polling party wanted to go home for some urgent work and he had a butcher shop in the town .So Dr. Rawat allowed him to go with the promise that in the morning he would return with half a kilo mutton. So this was the only election duty in which I enjoyed even mutton curry. In the evening and morning we used to go on morning and evening walk for quite a long distance. We use to lose time as we were engrossed in conversation on various topics. 

            Everything went on normal except a squabble between the members of polling parties who were staying in school of the village. As in those days there were ballot papers so under the influence of intoxication a member tried to destroy the ballot papers. After securing th safety of ballot papers presiding officers of these two parties rushed to us to report the matter to the Zonal Magistrate who was staying in the Dak Bungalow of the town. However the dispute ended amicably when members of the polling party sought apology from the Presiding Officers as they knew it well that if the complaint reaches Zonal Magistrate their job would be in danger. Another petty incident that occurred during these elections was that after the polls when we came back to the district headquarter to deposit the ballot boxes and other documents I misplaced my bag containing important documents like Ballot Paper Account. One of the member Mr. Neelmani, who is famous player of the town, helped in finding that bag as a result of which I returned to my home as a contented man. I will never forget personalities like Dr. Rawat, Mr. Neelmani, Mr. Rang Lal Bharadia and many more who have helped me and cooperated with me in conducting the polls in a peaceful and efficient manner.