RAUTAHAT, Sept 15: Poll preparations in Rautahat have been affected after polling officers remained absent in the deputed stations citing delay in releasing their allowances. With the delay by the local administration in releasing their allowances and wages, polling staffers who were supposed to distribute voter ID cards were found queuing up at the District Election Office on Thursday. 

The Election Commission (EC) has started distributing voter ID cards from Friday. But the ID card distribution process was affected after most poll staffers were busy collecting their allowances and wages before starting their work at the polling stations.  

According to Dina Nath Yadav, chief of District Livestock Service Office, Rautahat, the polling officers and staffers were called to collect their allowances and wages early in the morning but due to the poor management no one could receive their allowances until noon. This is why they were unable to return to the polling stations. 
  
Due to the poor management, voter ID cards have not reached the Election Office. Though some officials have already collected the required election materials, they were waiting for getting paid. As the officials lined up at the Election Office for payment, voters reaching the election booths were obliged to return home without their voter ID cards. 

Rajan Shriwastav, chief of the District Election Office, has admitted that they are encountering various problems due to untimely distribution of allowances and salaries to the polling staffers. 

Lekhnath Dhakal, chief returning officer of the district, said, “Officers are leaving for the election centers to make necessary preparations for the polls." Birendra Yadav, chief investigation officer of the Election Commission (EC) has affirmed that his team has been investigating the delayed work in Rautahat and has already reported the problems to the central election body. 

 
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