'Overslept': Kerala poll officer turns up late for duty

Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 (IANS) A polling officer in Kerala's Alappuzha failed to turn up on time at his post for Tuesday's Assembly elections, with the excuse that he had overslept.This incident occurred at a booth at Thalavady in Alappuzha.According to rules, all poll officials had to conduct a mock poll at 5.30 a.m. and commence polling at 7 a.m.But at this polling booth, a key poll official was absent, and the authorities were unable to contact him. Proceedings eventually started after a reserve poll official took over the missing officer's duties.And when the poll official was finally located, he said that he had overslept and hence was not able to be present on time.The Alappuzha District Collector has decided to initiate action against the erring poll official.Polling for the 140-member Kerala Assembly is underway on Tuesday.
--IANS sg/vd