India's Election Results Delayed by Officials Updating LinkedIn Profiles
Election results in India are delayed as officials prioritize LinkedIn updates over electoral duties, raising concerns about public trust and efficiency.
Image: Election Commission of India
Concerns Arise as Older Officials Struggle with Digital Tools on Platform
NEW DELHI — India's announcement of the latest election results was indefinitely postponed due to a national focus among bureaucrats on updating their LinkedIn profiles, officials confirmed.
Typically, the Election Commission of India announces results within days after voting ends, using a network of electronic voting machines and a centralized counting process to guarantee transparency and efficiency.
The commission was to announce results Saturday, but the headquarters buzzed only with the sounds of keyboards as staff updated resumes and endorsements. LinkedIn has become crucial to Indian bureaucracy, affecting electoral operations, sources said.
"Our priority is ensuring that our career prospects are as robust as our democratic processes," said Sanjeev Patel, a senior official who recently endorsed more than 50 colleagues for skills including "vote counting" and "patriotic tallying."
"It's crucial to stay updated and competitive," Patel said.
An informal workshop at the commission's office then shifted from a session on digital visibility to a full-blown career development seminar.
Initially planned as an "Enhancing Professional Visibility in the Digital Age" workshop, the event evolved into a session on improving job descriptions and networking strategies. Staff also attended seminars on professional photography to enhance their LinkedIn profile pictures.
"If the election doesn't go well, at least our LinkedIn pages will look fantastic," said Geeta Malhotra, an election supervisor.
Malhotra also confirmed she had been contacted by two headhunters that morning.
Political figures and citizens alike expressed concern over the delay, which will erode public trust in electoral processes and enhance the job prospects for election officials in the global market.
"At this rate, we just start voting on LinkedIn polls," said Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal and leader of the All India Trinamool Congress.
"I just want to know if my vote counted," said Rajesh Singh, a shopkeeper in Tamil Nadu. "But it’s great that our officials are mastering digital tools."
Technical support teams stay busy as older officials navigate the platform. In response, LinkedIn plans to introduce an "election mode" feature to aid officials during election seasons.
There is no confirmed date for rescheduling the election results, though it align with the social media platform's next update. "It's all about synergy," Patel noted. ■
