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Too early to get excited over high polling percentage
11/27/2014 10:44:43 PM

If the voter turnout in the polling on Tues-
day was far more than the expectations
one need not feel elated beyond limits. One calls the heavy turn out as a slap on the face of Kashmiri separatists. What is music to nationalist forces in the state and in the rest of the country is that constituencies like Sonawari, Bandipore, Kangan, Gurez and Ganderbal witnessed as high as 71 per cent polling. Infact the voter turnout this time was better than 2008, previously hailed as the best. In 2008, there were a total of 64,61,757 electors of which 39,52,094 voted putting the polling percentage at 61.16 per cent. The 15 Assembly segments that went to polls in seven districts of Bandipore, Ganderbal, Leh, Kargil, Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda recorded a voting percentage of 66.73 per cent in 2008. It was 60.51 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections early this year.In the Valley, voters in four of five constituencies - Ganderbal, Kangan, Sonawari and Bandipore - turned up in large numbers as they wanted to save their Kashmiri Muslim identity against the BJP's "Mission 44 plus". Overwhelming response of voters was also seen in Ladakh's Leh and Kargil districts and also south of Pir Panjal in six seats of the erstwhile Doda district.
Well opinion on the reasons that resulted in high voting percentage varies from person to person and from one political leader to the other. Basically two factors seem to have motivated people to come out in large numbers to cast their votes.First,it is said that voter turnout was the result of anger of people against the bad governance of the Congress-NC coalition rule. Those who have watched the polling process from close quarters do say that voters wanted to teach the Congress and the NC a lesson. More anger of voters was reflected against the NC which had bungled and fumbled while tackling the flood devastation and initiating relief and rescue measures.Since voters believed that the Valley, which has 46 seats,used to be the stronghold of the NC they came out in large numbers possibly to vote against the NC. One does not know which party they ultimately supported. Secondly,people felt that in case they responded to the poll boycott call given by the separatists poor polling percentage could benefit either the NC or the BJP.
However,it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the reasons behind high polling percentage and that too from the five seats in the Valley. If six constituencies in the region of Jammu witnessed 76 per cent polling there was nothing special about it because in the previous elections too the polling percentage in these six constituencies has ranged between 55 and 66 per cent. What actually matters is the polling percentage that will be witnessed during four other phases, particularly in the districts of Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian.
During the previous elections, including the recent Lok Sabha election, the polling percentage in Srinagar district has not crossed 20 to 25. It has been between 35 and 38 per- cent in other districts.
If the polling percentage remained poor in these districts it means that voters have responded to the call for poll boycott given by the separatists. If there is heavy polling it may not only mean rejecting separatists' call but also may indicate peoples' urge to prevent Kashmiri Pandit voters from being a decisive factor for helping some candidates in winning the election.
High polling percentage may also mean peoples' decision to vote for change and for a good Government. Let one hope that voters will vote for a good Government.
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