The Hindu : Karnataka / Bidar News : Bypoll: Many women voters stayed at home

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 15, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bidar

Bypoll: Many women voters stayed at home

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, OCT. 14. Was Mahalaya Amavasya, new moon day, in the Hindu month of Ashwija the reason for a large number of women voters staying away from the polling booths in the Lok Sabha byelection from Bidar on Wednesday?

According to available statistics, nearly 1 lakh fewer women voted than men. Of the 13,73,667 voters (excluding postal ballots) in the parliamentary constituency, 6,11,606 voted, taking the poll percentage to 44.52.

This included 3,52,795 of the 7,03,349 eligible men voters and 2,58,811 of the 6,70,318 eligible women voters.

`Busy at home'

Chandraprabha, a homemaker in Bidar, said women were busy worshipping and cooking at home as it was Mahalaya Amavasya. Most Hindus observe the death anniversary of elders on the occasion.

It is also called Sarva Pitra Amavasya. Since the rituals went on till the evening, it was impossible to go out and vote, she said.

Quazi Arshad Ali, a senior journalist and general secretary of the Congress district unit, said the Election Commission should have changed the date of polling, at least in Karnataka.

Though the holy day is observed in many States, it is a government holiday in Karnataka, but not in Maharashtra, he said.

`Sacred duty'

Nataraj Uronagi, a student said citizens should regard voting as their sacred duty and exercise their franchise despite festivities.

"Most of us keep complaining about the political and administrative system. But whenever elections throw up an opportunity to change the system, we fail to use it," he said.

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Bypoll: Many women voters stayed at home