The low voter turnout in the first phase of elections makes political parties jittery
Posted On Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:42:56 PM
The low voter turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra has alarmed senior party leaders. According to reports, the turnout was approximately 54%, almost 10% less than the average voting in the state Was it is due to the scorching sun or the sheer apathy on the part of almost half of the 18.1 million voters? These are the questions now being asked in the state headquarters of major parties. Could it be that star campaigners-like Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, L K Advani, Narendra Modi Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Gopinath Munde, and Nitin Gadkari to name a few-have lost their lustre, failing to generate sufficient voter interest in the polls? Union ministers Praful Patel, Vilas Muttemwar and Suryakanta Patil, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, Datta Meghe (NCP), Bhavana Gawli (Shiv Sena), Prakash Ambedkar (BRP), and Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar (brother-in-law of chief minister Ashok Chavan, NCP), were among the prominent leaders in the first phase. Word on the street is that Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed as they are depending heavily on the Vidarbha region for votes. However, they are worried as a low percentage of voting has always affected their chances. Past precedence has shown that the Congress always receives a boost from the floating vote, while a low voter turnout usually comprises die-hard loyalists of local parties, such as the Sena. MPCC president Manikrao Thakare, who reviewed the situation, however, claimed that there was a "positive response'' from the voters to the Congress-NCP-RPI alliance. He added that in all the rallies held so far, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were crowd-pullers. Their presence, he said, helped generate a positive atmosphere as both addressed less contentious issues. But unlike the Gandhis, whose presence guarantee crowds, state-level leaders are not getting the expected response while campaigning. So, the Congress is taking no chances, and is organising more rallies led by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the second phase of voting, scheduled on April 23. According to MPCC spokesperson Kanahaiyalal Gidwani, Sonia will address meetings in Jalna, Pune and Dondaich in Dhule on April 20, while Rahul will be at Bhiwandi and Shirdi on April 19. The MPCC has also decided to put in more effort to ensure mobilisation of crowds at the rallies. MPCC general secretary Sanjay Dutt and Rajani Patil (vice-president) will be in charge of the Pune meeting, while MPCC officials Sheshrao Chavan and Prakash Mugdiya will be in charge of the mobilisation efforts for the Jalna meeting. Senior leaders have also been roped in. One senior AICC observer told TOI that Congress is expecting a large chunk of seats: a minimum of 15 seats from Congress and another dozen from the NCP, a total that will ensure the alliance a comfortable position in the post- election wrap-up. The NCP, too, is refusing to read too much into the low voter turnout. The party spokesperson and former minister Madan Bafna said it was difficult to say who would benefit from the low turnout. Much will depend on the mobilisation of voters by different political parties during the two-week campaigning, he said. Meanwhile, Sena spokesperson Dr Nilam Gorhe said the party was receiving a good response on the campaign trail, and that members were not worried about the low figures. Sena-BJP leaders are hopeful that the low turnout will work in their favour, but they are in no hurry to talk about it and alarm the Cong-NCP alliance in the state. Lack of transportation facilities many have also played a role in the low voter turnout. Due to the Election Commission's vigilant watch, no candidate was taking the risk of providing voters with vehicles so that they can reach the polling booths |