Dehradun: Uttarakhand recorded 65.05 per cent voters’ turnout for the 70-member state assembly elections- which is on lower side as compared with 2017 elections.
Even as the final data from the ECI has yet to come, there are indications that the polling per centage in Uttarakhand would be close to 64 per cent or so, which is less than 65.56 per cent recorded in 2017 state assembly elections.
On the other hand, Goa reported 78.94%, Uttar Pradesh 61 per cent till the last report came in from the Election Commission of India (ECI). A 100 years old Narayan Singh cast his vote at Kapkot polling booth, who was escorted by the ECI volunteers and was honoured by the SDM with a shawl.
There were dibyang and elderly voters who were brought to the polling booths on palanquins, dolis or in wheel chairs from many parts of hills of Uttarakhand to cast their votes, informed the election officers. The family member of 97 yrs old Jabbar Singh Negi of village Jaddhar in Tehri brought him on the pole-doli to the polling booth to cast his vote, a picture that has gone viral on social media(see photo).
Low voters turnout in the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand and UP, where the BJP was facing anti-incumbency factor, could be a solace for the ruling party. But in 2017 and 2012 the polling percentage was as close as it was witnessed this year, yet the ruling party was voted out of power, said the analysts.
The major issues in Uttarakhand polls are the unemployment, price rise and development, which have kept the ruling BJP on its toes in its bid to accomplish its mission repeat. Congress has emerged as a potent rival to the ruling BJP, with Congress leaders trying their best to fanning out unemployment, migration and price rise among the voters to make a crucial cut.
Both the ruling BJP and Congress have been running their campaigns on the social media claiming leads on most constituencies in their game of one-upmanship.
According to the chief electoral officer Uttarakhand, the voters had lined up in queues to cast their votes cutting across different age groups. The voting picked up in later morning hours after the sun heat broke the chill of the morning hours.
There are over 82.67 lakh voters who will be electing 70 lawmakers among 632 candidates, including 63 women in fray in Uttarakhand, fielded by BJP, Congress, AAP, UKD, BSP and others.
In Goa, there are over 11.5 lakh voters to elect 40 legislators among 301 candidates( 26 women) who are in fray this time, representing BJP Congress and AAP and other political parties.
In UP, there are over 2.02 crore voters who are exercising their franchise to elect 55 legislators for the second phase. There are 586 candidates (69 women candidates) in fray for the second phase fielded by the BJP, Congress, SP, BSP and others.
