Mysuru: Public are facing severe hardship at government offices that have been converted into the offices of Returning Officers who are receiving nomination papers from candidates contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections. None of the regular work is happening at the government offices and at some offices, public are even denied entry.

Candidates come to the offices of Returning Officers at Mini Vidhana Soudha, Chamundi Vihar Stadium and the Mysuru City Corporation offices to file their nominations.

Usually they come along with a huge crowd and camp all over corridors of the offices, preventing the public from going into the sections to get their work done.

Routine works like the issue of birth and death certificates, Khata issue and transfer, issue of copies of revenue records, RTC, survey plans and other works are held up because of this.

To prevent candidates from entering the offices with their supporters, gatekeepers are closing the gates, preventing the public from entering the offices.

Whoever comes to the offices either before a candidate files his nomination or during the time of filing papers are prevented from entering the offices. Due to this attitude of the gatekeepers, verbal duels in front of the gates are common. Gatekeepers argue that party workers enter the offices in the guise of the public and create a nuisance inside the offices.  Gatekeepers said that they have been strictly instructed by their superiors not to allow anyone except the candidate and four of his/ her supporters inside the gate. If the candidate is a VIP, only his car is allowed inside the compound.