Posted by Dehradun: Although the office of chief electoral office (CEO’s office) set a target of ensuring 75 percent polling, Uttarakhand recorded only 53.56 percent polling by the end of 5pm. The 2019 LS polls registered about 61 percent voters’ turnout. In the 2022 assembly elections, voters showed enthusiasm and polling percent remained 64 percent. So, both the main political players- the ruling BJP and the Congress- seem a little disappointed. They are not in position to claim the voting trend as either “anti-incumbency” or the “pro-incumbency”
Both the parties claim to put up a good show
Following the announcement of poll dates, the CEO’s office launched a campaign to achieve the target of 75% polling percentage this time. However, it reflected less enthusiasm among voters leading to decrease in the polling percent. The state’s ruling party BJP and opposition Congress claim that they would perform well despite the low polling.
Congress plea is that the opposition always benefitted from “silent voting” and thus, the party hopes to get an edge over its rival BJP in the state. On the contrary, BJP felt that “Modi magic” worked in its favour across the state and it has no reason to worry in view of the decrease in the polling percentage.
Congress sees it as a positive sign for it
Congress party felt that low voters’ turnout shows little impact of the “Modi factor”. According to its leaders, it reflects anger among the people of the state. As per the Congress, local issues like better road communication, proper health facilities and check on migration from the hills were in the minds of voters before their arrival at polling stations. Mathura Dutt Joshi, Vice President (Organization) of the Congress, said, “The youth of the hills and plain areas did not come out to vote because there is a lot of resentment over schemes like Agniveer. The lack of roads in the state is creating a lot of problems for the people. There was no enthusiasm over Prime Minister Modi’s appeal seeking a third term in office. There is a lot of disappointment among the people who are facing migration due to man-wildlife conflict because people’s life is not safe and due to these conflicts farming and employment are not possible. People weren’t so enthusiastic about Ram Mandir and UCC and it seems that people are looking for an alternative to BJP”.
Modi will make a hattrick this time
BJP is explaining the low voters’ turnout by claiming that the voters are sure about Modi’s return to power for the third consecutive term. BJP state spokesperson Devendra Bhasin said that Congress is almost non-existent in this state and its leaders are also well aware that the country loves PM Modi. “This is the reason that no big leader except Priyanka Gandhi visited Uttarakhand for election campaigning. This clearly shows the confidence of voters that every vote is for PM Modi. The disappointment prevailing among Congress workers was clearly visible at the polling booths also,” he said. According to him, this time again PM Modi would return to the office of PM.
BJP will be in advantageous position
Political experts felt that the political equation favours the BJP and there is no visible threat to BJP. “The Congress, sitting in the opposition, has almost surrendered. And the BJP has already a lead in this state dominated by the upper caste,” a political expert SMA Kazmi said. He felt that BJP has little reasons to worry about its performance in the LS polls. The Congress was not in the contest anywhere except Garhwal, he further added. He maintained the voters are looking for a viable opposition in the state.