March 18: With almost everybody preparing to go home to vote in the national assembly elections, the staff of the Bhutan Oil Corporation in Trashiyangtse said they have been left in a limbo.

The Bhutan Oil Corporation in Trashiyangtse has four staff. They said as much as they want to participate in the historic elections, they cannot leave their jobs. They said with majority of the people on the move, they will have to stay back to man the fuel depot and provide fuel to motorists. Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag has only one fuel depot. They said they should have been given postal ballots to vote.

Joint Director of Trade Dophu Tshering said they approached the Election Commission on behalf of the Bhutan Oil Corporation. He said their request was not accepted saying they were late.

Fuel depots across the country have been issued a directive by the Trade Department to keep the depots open throughout the day.

A Senior General Manager of Bhutan Oil Corporation T.R. Sharma said arrangements have been made to keep the fuel depot open 24 hours. He said staff will be allowed to go to their constituencies to vote.

Meanwhile the Dzongkhag Electoral Officer said if people manning the fuel depot leave for their constituencies to vote, it could hamper the movement of vehicles and the election.