By L S Herdenia
BHOPAL: It was less of polling and more a festival for many sections of voters. It was a thrilling experience for the first time voters. Many of them reached the polling booths in groups and after exercising their franchise they proceeded to picnic spots. First time female voters were more exited and were dressed in their best when they reached polling booths.
How deep the commitment to democratic rights is can be appreciated by some highly enthusiastic brave acts. Ramesh Chandra Sharma, a voter of Ujjain North constituency, who has lost both his hands in an accident, reached the polling booth and declared that he would like to vote. How can he vote when he is without hands? Enterprising polling booth in charge allowed him to vote with the toe of his leg. He climbed a chair and pressed the button of his choice in the midst of cheers of polling staff. The staff released the picture of this unique feat. It was published in newspaper with the caption “Loktantra ke majboot kadam (strong steps of democracy).
In another case a female voter whose family said she was 110 years old came to the polling booth and after voting announced that she would come to vote during the next election also. Another woman, a third stage cancer patient, too voted. There are many such thrilling episodes whose reports are coming from various parts of the state. In two cases a groom insisted that his Nikah can wait but he would vote first. Similarly in another case a bride reached the polling booth in her bridal dress. In another case a woman reached the polling booth with new born child.
The famous poet Gulzar penned a poem lauding the enthusiasm of blind voters. This time the Election Commission provided transport for the elderly and physically handicapped voters. Ola cab offered free service for the same. This time some unique arrangements were made by the Election Commission. They included some polling booths entirely manned by women.
In one case the Commission took a very hard decision. It had to order the arrest of all the candidates following incidents of violence in more than one constituency. All of them were brought to the circuit house and were kept in detention till the end of polling,
Many candidates including Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan exercised their franchise after performing Pooja. Chouhan did not visit his constituency during the election period. He left his fate in the hands of his family including wife Sadhna Singh and sons.
There were three heroes who met their death while performing their poll duty. One good news is that the polling was totally peaceful in the Naxal-affected areas of the state.
As for the polling percentage, it was higher compared to earlier elections. Who will benefit by this high voting is difficult to assess but normally the ruling party is rarely benefited by the higher percentage.
Never in the past 40 years did people turn out in such large numbers to exercise their franchise in Madhya Pradesh, as they did on Wednesday to elect the next government of the state. Around 75% voters exercised their franchise this time, compared to 72.66% in 2013 Assembly polls and 61.60% in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the state.
How massive the surge in voting has been becomes clearer if one talks in terms of absolute numbers, rather than percentages. Thus, in 2013 Assembly polls, 3.32 crore voters used their mandate, while in 2014 general elections, the figure was 2.93 crore. This time, 3.78 crore have cast their votes i.e., 46 lakh more vis-a-vis 2013 Assembly and 85 lakh more than the 2014 LS polls.
Yet another fact, which may have a bearing on the poll outcome, is the comparatively higher turnout of women voters. In at least six districts, polling percentage of women was higher than that of men. What does the high voter turnout signify?
Conventional wisdom suggests that it signifies anti-incumbency. But the million-dollar question is who should be considered the incumbent the ruling party or the MLA concerned. The BJP, in an effort to contain anti-incumbency, has denied re-nomination to around 50 MLAs.
Interestingly, over the last 25 years with a sole exception higher voting has brought about a change in government. The polling percentage was 66.17% in 1993 polls, when the BJP lost to Congress. It fell to 60.21 in 1998, when the Congress got another term. However, it again rose to 67.25% in 2003, when BJP pipped Congress but again dipped to 63.78% in 2008, though BJP won the mandate. But the 2013 polls bucked the trend. The poll percentage rose to 72.66% but the incumbent BJP returned to power
In the 2013 polls, the BJP polled 1.51 crore votes while the Congress got 1.23 crore votes a difference of only 28 lakh. Though the difference in votes polled was only 8.5%, but the first-past-the-post system led to the BJP winning 165 seats as against Congress’s 58. That is, by garnering the support of 8% more voters, the BJP won more than thrice the number of seats won by the Congress. Against this backdrop, the fact that 46 lakh more electors have cast their vote this time assumes significance. In last 25 years, barring once, a surge in poll percentage has ushered in a new government. High voting in Malwa region, which was the epicentre of the farmers’ protest in the state last year, recorded a high turnout. It was 82% each in all the four districts of Mandsaur, Ratlam, Neemuch and Agar-Malwa.
While political pundits will continue to analyse and interpret the impact of higher polling on the outcome, the fact remains that the ECI, too, had made strenuous efforts to boost poll percentage this time. Many new initiatives, including SVEEP and Sugamya were taken, which, too, may have contributed to the surge in voting percentage.
Along with the polling percentage increase across the state, Budhni, where CM Chouhan is seeking re-election, witnessed an increase, too. The poll percentage in Budhni in 2013 was 79.70% while this time, it is 82.94%.
Both the BJP and Congress leaders are claiming that they will get majority. Who is right and who is wrong will be decided on December 1 when the counting will be held.
After the polling many leaders including Chouhan and Kamal Nath sought the blessings of all mighty. (IPA Service)
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