India votes: First big day of polls draws to a close

DELHI:

Although the turnout in almost all the 91 constituencies that went to the polls on Thursday – the largest chunk of constituencies to go to the polls so far – surpassed previous levels, it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that was the most jubilant, enthused by the way the vote would help the Uttar Pradesh outcome. The only disappointment was Maharashtra which saw a lower than expected turnout.

The Election Commission’s satisfaction over turnout levels was marred by bomb blasts in two constituencies – Munger and Jamui – in Bihar and discovery of unexploded bombs in Aurangabad. Two soldiers died in the blasts. There was some exchange of fire in Gadchiroli, an area inhabited by Maoists in Maharashtra.

Ten seats in western UP went to the polls today. The turnout in the region was 70 per cent, 14 per cent more than in 2009. BJP sources are confident that the Muslim vote has split between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in western UP. They say the SP has shown a late surge among Muslims.



In Delhi, a dipstick survey of polling booths suggested that barring New Delhi – where there was a sizeable presence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) flags and activists – in six other constituencies, the Congress and BJP had a matching presence at polling booths with a slight edge for the BJP. In Kerala where all 20 Lok Sabha seats are going to the polls, a turnout upwards of 70 per cent is normal. Pollsters said what was important was that the Badgara constituency – where the BJP has high hopes – had the highest turnout in the state. Both fronts, Congress-led United Democratic Front and CPM-controlled Left Democratic Front, claimed that high polling percentage would help them. Muslim-dominated areas in Malabar (north Kerala) witnessed an unprecedented turnout.  In 2009, UDF had won 16 and LDF four.

Haryana with 10 seats saw complaints of rigging being registered by AAP within one hour of voting. In Gurgaon, supporters of Yogendra Yadav complained of “massive rigging” at 10 am when barely 15 per cent had voted. Candidates who sense they are winning rarely say the election is rigged.

Maharashtra’s 10 seats saw a lower turnout than expected. Officials said it was because of the searing heat.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu constituency saw long queues of people waiting to vote.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2014.