The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Concern over low turnout of voters in district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 26, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Concern over low turnout of voters in district

Staff Reporter

Lowest polling percentage, 43.67, registered in city corporation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Thiruvananthapuram district registered an all-time low voter turnout in the local body elections held on Saturday, anomalies in the voters' list and reduction of campaign period have been pointed as the main reasons for the voters' indifference.

The steep fall in voting percentage in the local body elections in the district has come as a matter of concern for the candidates of the rival fronts.

The lowest polling percentage of 43.67 was registered in the city corporation. Of the four municipalities, the lowest polling percentage of 51.78 was recorded in Varkala, followed by 57.94 in Attingal, 60 in Nedumangad and 64 per cent in Neyyattinkara.

The voting pattern in the district, block and grama panchayat divisions in the rural areas too was not much different either. Voting to the three-tier panchayats also was the lowest in Varkala which recorded 47 per cent. It was 48.73 per cent in Thiruvananthapuram rural. Perumgadavila had the highest voting rate of 64 per cent in the three-tier panchayats. Nedumangad registered 60.63 per cent, Vellanad 60.14 per cent, Athiyanoor 60 per cent, Nemom 59.83 per cent, Parassala 58 per cent, Kazhakkoottam 57.67 per cent, Kilimanoor 56.83 per cent, Chirayinkeezh 56.54 per cent and Vamanapuram 54.71 per cent.

In spite of the low voter turnout, the LDF and UDF exude the confidence of registering an impressive victory. CPI(M) district secretary M. Vijayakumar said the general trend was in favour of the LDF and it would have record win. "The anomalies in the voters' list is the main reason for the steep fall in the turnout. Enumeration of voters was not done before the elections. Hence, there was a confusion about the number of live voters. The names of the dead and those who have migrated to various places have all figured in the list. The authorities concerned should have taken steps to rectify such anomalies," he said.

The candidates hardly got a fortnight for campaigning. Almost five days were lost in Onam festivities. An extended campaigning would have evoked better response, Mr. Vijayakumar said.

According to District Congress Committee general secretary Chempazhanthy Anil, the fall in voting rate would not have a bearing on the UDF prospects. "The general assumption that it would harm only the UDF chances is not correct. If one were to go by that yardstick, it would equally affect the LDF too. This can also be read as the general aversion of the middle class to politics," he said.

Noted political commentator Raman Pillai said the low voter turnout in the city reflected the apathy of the upper middle class segment.

He feels that the unprincipled electoral tie-up between political formations had led to a general disillusionment.

"With politics taking precedence over development issues in the campaign, it is not surprising that the electorate has adopted an apathetic attitude. The lack of enthusiasm among party workers was evident throughout the campaign", Prof. Pillai notes.

"The anomalies in the voters' list may also have forced people to stay away from polling booths," he says.

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