Mysuru: Poor people faced hardship as Indira Canteens remained closed across the State due to polling which began at 7 am this morning. In an order issued last evening, the Election Commission (EC) asked the administrative machinery to close down all the Indira canteens as the voters might be induced to vote for a particular political party.

Sources also said that the Indira Canteens remained closed to facilitate staff members to cast their votes. Indira Canteen was opened in various parts of the State to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at cheaper rates so that auto drivers, people belonging to labour class and BPL card holders can have food.

In Mysuru too all the 11 canteens were closed. However, breakfast was served as the EC communication reached the food contractor only today morning and by the time, breakfast had been cooked at the centralised kitchen and despatched to the respective canteen.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, canteen food contractor said that only breakfast was served and there will be no lunch and dinner today. All the cooks, servers and the canteen in-charge employees have been given a day-off for them to vote, he added.