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| Story behind long queues | | | ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
Jammu, Dec 9: As the election office updates figures of voter turnout for fourth phase of elections, it emerged that 19.96 percent of the total electorate voted in home constituency of separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Sopore –an improvement of nearly 10 per cent over the previous elections when turnout was not as much an issue as it was this time in view of a clear cut call from separatists to boycott elections and an anxiety running down the official nerves keen to see impressive percentage.
Polling is over in first four phases involving 39 constituencies across 11 districts –five in Kashmir, four in Jammu and two in Ladakh regions. Barring four constituencies –including in Jammu region –the poll percentage in every constituency has registered a significant up over the figures of 2002 elections.
The case of intense concern over voter turnout is unique to the elections in Jammu and Kashmir as it hardly comes for a debate in elections to any other state assembly in India. Though for political parties the election is all about winning but the policy experts, researchers, academicians and more so the international community looks at Jammu and Kashmir elections purely in terms of voter turnout. The reason is simple –those who question the unquestionable integration of state with India see the poor voter turnout a stamp on their idea and the vice versa.
Three phases of assembly elections 2008 are still pending and the winning prospects of parties will be known only on December 28 but as long as polls are viewed in terms of voter turnout, the present elections have already been won. Looking back at the situation three months back when even the Kashmir based regional formations like Peoples Democratic Party and the National Conference were dragging feet in view of hostile circumstances, the overwhelming voter turnout has left all surprised and shocked –both ‘separatists’ and ‘integrationists’ equally.
While separatists are seen wanting for the answers to explain as how the same people, who would shut down the Valley for days on a small press release, voted despite their ‘clear-cut’ boycott call. The mainstream discourse is describing it as a victory of democracy and rebuff to the separatists. Of course, it is but not simple as being put. The answer for large queues at the polling booths across Kashmir Valley probably lies in an unprecedentedly high number of candidates contesting elections in different constituencies.
With over 1,300 candidates in fray for the 87-member House, the 2008 assembly election has witnessed an increase of nearly 100 per cent in the number of contestants as against that of the last polls held in 2002. An average number of 14 candidates are contesting elections from each constituency. Many, however, have candidates going beyond 40.
A look at the electioneering reveals that each candidate, even not in a position to secure the deposits, is seen campaigning intensely. After an intense and keen electioneering if each candidate is able to pull a total of 1000 voters to the booths the total polling can be of the order of 15,000 to 20,000. Add to this vote share of two to three main contenders, the total voter turnout simply goes beyond 60 percent. There were 26 candidates in Sopore constituency against only six in 2002.
This year's election also recorded the highest number of female contestants, national parties, state parties, independents and even former chief ministers in multi-cornered contests. Surprise participants in the Valley’s electoral landscape at BJP, BSP and Panthers Party each having fielded over two dozen candidates in the Valley
Assembly elections of 2002, described as a historic landmark by both the Centre and the state for the large number of contestants, had 706 candidates a record at that time. This year, the record was shattered with the number of candidates increasing by leaps and bounds.
In the 1996 elections, which were held after a gap of nine years due to eruption of militancy in early 1990s, 541 politicians took part in the democratic process despite the militants' threat. The increase in the number of contestants during the elections over that of the 1987 polls was marginal. The difference in the number of candidates in 1987 and 1983 polls, when 515 and 511 candidates were in the fray respectively, was also negligible.
While the reasons for huge participation of candidates in elections 2008 may be discussed and debated after the electioneering ends but at least one cogent motivation can be seen. In view of over two dozen surprise faces returning to 2002’s legislative assembly the public faith in democracy appears to have deepened attracting more candidates to try their luck. |
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