Low turnout in Gujarat civic polls

Advani says make voting compulsory

Voting for the elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat Sunday witnessed a low voter turnout in the first few hours. The turnout,however,picked up post-afternoon,surpassing the state average of 39 per cent in 2005 to around 43 per cent this time. Votes will be counted on October 12.

While Sunday,a holiday,is stated to be a reason for increase in polling percentage. Another reason could be merger of new areas with some municipal corporations where there is a greater awareness about civic issues. Though the polling percentage ward-wise was not available immediately,sources said it was much higher than 43 per cent in new areas in Ahmedabad municipal corporation.

However,no long queues were witnessed at polling booths. A reason for this could be the increase in the number of polling booths.

Senior leaders of Congress and BJP also exercised their franchise. The BJP has been winning all elections in the state for the last 15 to 20 years. The party is wedded to development and people of Gujarat will vote for development this time also. We will win this election, said Gujarat CM Narendra Modi after casting his vote at Ranip in Ahmedabad.

Airing concern over the poor voter turnout,senior BJP leader L K Advani,who cast his vote at Khanpur,called for renewed efforts to make voting compulsory. He pitched for the Modi governments bill making voting mandatory,which the Governor had returned without approving,as the solution to public apathy.

The BJP had made the arrest of Amit Shah,close aide of Modi,in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case as one of its main poll planks with all its leaders alleging that the arrest amounted to misuse of the CBI by the Congress.

Congress,on the other hand,had focused more on local issues,saying the corporation polls were about civic amenities and highlighted assistance given to the state under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission for development of infrastructure in cities.

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All the six civic bodies Ahmedabad,Surat,Rajkot,Vadodara,Jamnagar and Bhavnagar are presently ruled by the BJP.

According to the SEC,the poll percentage was 40-43 per cent in Ahmedabad,42-45 per cent in Surat,40-42 per cent in Rajkot, 44-47 per cent in Vadodara,40-45 per cent in Bhavnagar and 47-50 per cent in Jamnagar.

Over 2,100 candidates are in the fray for 558 seats.