IT SEEMS political awareness has finally dawned in Uttar Pradesh as large number of voters exercised their right to vote in the fourth phase of ongoing assembly elections on Sunday. The large turnout has also set new records, pointing to the fact that people here have become aware of their constitutional rights.

 

The efforts of Election Commission and many others who were actively involved this time in making the electorate aware of their national duty, must be given full marks as they got a good success in their plans and initiatives to mobilize the voters, and surprisingly there were long queues seen this time in the polling booths falling in the VVIP areas, where women and young voters exercised their right to franchise.

 

Polling concluded peacefully in some 11 districts on Sunday including the state capital, Lucknow, and the turnout of voters was high in the rural areas as compared to the urban areas. The overall polling recorded in the fourth phase was around 57.2 whereas in the previous assembly elections, held in 2007, it was around 43.84 percent. So it has shown an increase of some 13.86 per cent and this was a good sign for the Indian democracy.

 

It was a big day for many VVIPs who went on to cast their ballot. Some of the top leaders and persons include the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, B L Joshi, who after casting his ballot also appealed to the people of state to exercise their right without any fear. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati also exercised her right and after that she told the media that her party would perform better than 2007, and she was excited to see the type of response which her party was getting during election campaigns.

 

Among others who went on to cast their ballot included Bharatiya Janta Party leader Kalraj Mishra, Lalji Tandon, Uma Bharati, Congress state president Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Congress candidate from the Lucknow north Dr Neeraj Bora, Samajwadi Party leader Juhi Singh and Abhishek Mishra, etc.

 

Lucknow, the state capital and hub of all political activities, recorded 56 percent voting which was better than 2007 when it recorded only 36.35 percent of voting. Chief Election Officer Umesh Sinha also commented on the Lucknow turnout and said Lucknow did better than before, but could have done far better.

 

Hardoi, Rae Bareli and Kannauj recorded the maximum turnout with some 59 percent of voters coming out from their homes to exercise their right to vote. Kannauj topped the list with some 59.33 percent and Lucknow came last with 56 percent of voters coming out to vote.

 

Development was the main issue this time as the electorate of every region want basic infrastructure to improve and they don’t want politicians to fool them in the name of religion, caste or reservation. The high turnout is bringing smiles on the faces of opposition parties as they feel it is the vote for making a change in the seat of government. Political pundits are also looking this high turnout as the result of ‘anti-incumbency’ factor.

 

Now the political class is keeping their fingers crossed as to whose fate has been sealed in the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machine) and now the results on March 6 will reveal whose Holi is going to be more colourful this time.